IT was shocking that a girl was killed and scores were injured when a Ferris wheel collapsed at Askari Park on University Road last Sunday. This is not the first incident of its kind; a similar tragedy took place at Aladdin Park on Rashid Minhas Road some years back, and a boy was killed.

Why do such tragedies occur in our country? Obviously no one in the government bothered to test the ride’s quality. It came down without a bang, wounding even those who were not on the revolving wheel.

Behind all such tragedies is our lust for money. Whether it is building shopping malls or play lands, high-rise apartment buildings or wedding halls, every owner wants to get things done at the earliest. Entrepreneurs know that money and influence can accomplish everything.

Throughout the city there are unauthorised constructions, illegal eateries doing roaring business and earning billions without paying a rupee in tax; parked cars on footpaths and roads; delivery trucks loading and unloading in a way that traffic is obstructed. As for pedestrians, well they just don’t count.

Askari Park was supposed to be a park. Aren’t there no rules governing parks? The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation used to have a park and playground department. Has it been wound up? If it is still there then why doesn’t it perform its duty?

The tragedy calls for a total overhaul of amusement parks in Karachi.

Kamal Rafiuddin
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018