GUJRAT: The district government has planned to revamp the existing forest park in Rakh Pabbi Sarkar area of Sara-i-Alamgir along GT Road under the public-private partnership as a group of overseas Pakistanis belonging to Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir will provide Rs2 million for the scheme.

Sara-i-Alamgir Assistant Commissioner Shoaib Nisoana on Wednesday hosted a meeting of the respective departments and a group of expatriates at the site of the park which is known as Banni Bangla Forest Park.

Gujrat District Coordination Officer Liaquat Ali Chatha was the chief guest in the meeting.

The forest department had developed a small park at the site many years ago which was in a shambles with no interest either by the visitors or the department concerned to maintain the naturally designed park site having a beautiful lake.

The Sara-i-Alamgir Tehsil Municipal Administration had sought permission from the district government to launch the project of revamping the existing park after which a group of expatriates announced providing funds for the project.

Nisoana said the construction of new walking tracks, joy land for the children, provision of boats for the lake, setting up a Dhaba open restaurant, canopies with seating facility and other such things would be made available at the site. He said a five-member committee mostly comprising expatriates had been constituted to not only monitor the utilisation of funds but would also be responsible for maintenance.

Speaking on the occasion, the DCO said the park would be a good recreational opportunity for the residents of Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir as it would be a picnic resort for families where security would also be provided.

MPA Chaudhary Shabeer Kotla, who is a member of the Punjab Overseas Commission, lauded the role of the expatriates in developing their native areas and asked the district government to completely assist the management committee of the park.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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