Frequent public rallies at Minar-i-Pakistan by political parties in the last couple of months have forced the quarters concerned to take a policy decision or make required amendments to the rules to impose a ban on holding any political or non-political public gathering by any party, group or organisation there in order to maintain the park/grounds around the national monument.

The Punjab government has started thinking seriously about this after the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) expressed concerns causing massive damage, due to rallies, to the precious plants, grass and other routine maintenance work by the officials.

Senior PHA officials have taken up the issue with the Punjab government, requesting it to take steps if it wants to save the monument.

“For the last couple of months, we are almost in a state of depression. Once after a rally we maintain the parks/grounds around Minar-i-Pakistan, another party comes, holds its rally and destroy all (plants, grass and even iron fencing) we do. The practice is going on for the last couple of months,” PHA Director General Mian Shakeel told Dawn.

When asked about the fee and compensation, the DG said it was not a matter of fee or compensatory amount paid by the political parties to the government. It is not a matter of money or compensation, it takes times for plants to grow and maintaining a park is all time consuming. Once the park is destroyed, it takes a long time to get a proper all parties, groups or individuals should avoid damaging it.

“The situation has forced us to take up the issue with the city district administration and Punjab government, the only solution to get rid of this is to close the place/premises for any sort of huge political as well as non-political gathering,” he added. He said the PHA management was even thinking to even get a legislation done or rules/laws amended, if required, in this regard by involving the government as well as all the political parties.

The official said the problem was not only affecting development/maintenance of the monument’s parks but also causing decrease in the frequent visits of tourists (both local and foreign) to the place. The officials quoted a recent three-day grand gathering by a party at Minar-i-Pakistan in which dozens of latrines were constructed in the area for the participants.

“Before this, various political parties had even cut the iron fencing besides damaging the beauty of the place from time to time. And in the next month, a religious party has announced a public meeting at the Minar-i-Pakistan. We are on our toes for the last couple of months, all the parties must avoid holding rallies at the monument, which is the identity of Pakistan,” the official added.

Talking about the mega development project at Minar-i-Pakistan titled “Greater Iqbal Park Scheme”, Mr Shakeel said all the political parties must know that the PHA and other departments concerned were about to launch this historical project in coming months. The PHA had shortlisted consultants who had submitted their designs. After a detailed deliberation, a committee would select one of these and would give a go-ahead to launching the civil work required at the site.

The senior officials representing various wings/directorates concerned have been directed by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) administration to dispose of all sorts of applications by the deadline fixed by the one-window cell. The direction was passed to all departmental heads in a recent meeting held at LDA Complex, Johar Town.

“There are many applications related to transfer of property, NOC, completion certificate, building maps approval and commercialization, etc. pending before various departments,” an official told this reporter.

khalidpak284@yahoo.com

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014