MARDAN: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government is planning to convert the under-construction Ameer Mohammad Khan Park and Zoo here into a residential colony, sources said.

They said that the mega project of park and zoo, located near Sheikh Maltoon Town, here was launched by the previous provincial government of Awami National Party so as to provide opportunities of recreation for the residents of Mardan.

The sources said that the park and zoo project, which was spread over 320 kanals, was scheduled to be completed in June 2015, but it had not been completed so far owing to negligence on part of the incumbent government.

They said that the issue of under-construction park and zoo project had come under discussion during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak a few weeks ago in which the government refused to approve Rs1 billion additional funds required for its completion.

However, they said, Mr Khattak had directed the officials concerned to take measures to convert the site of the park and zoo into a residential colony and search another site for construction of the said project.

When contacted, PTI MPA Zahid Durani said that it was just a proposal of the provincial government. He said that they had not given practical shape to the proposal yet. Provincial minister Mohammad Atif Khan was of the view that the provincial government wanted to build the said mega park and zoo on the government land at another site.

District nazim Himayatullah Mayar while talking to this correspondent criticized the provincial government for trying to convert the site of mega park and zoo into a residential colony.

“It is for the first time in my life that a provincial government is planning to convert a park into a residential area,” he said and asked the government to review its plan.

District naib nazim and PPP leader Asad Kashmiri urged the provincial government to set aside political differences and take decisions keeping in view the larger interest of masses. Also, the district council has passed a resolution, asking the provincial government to retract it decision about building a colony on the park site.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2016