I WOULD like to draw the attention of the Sindh chief minister and Karachi city government authorities to the lack of greenery in one of the oldest areas of Karachi which is Old Golimar. This locality is in the jurisdiction of Union Council 6 in SITE Town.

The area is heavily populated and several hundred outlets servicing the marble industry are located in its vicinity. The last major tree plantation in the area was carried out 18 years ago.

In the year 2000, 111 coconut trees were planted in Bagh-i-Benazir Park popularly known as Gutter Bagicha. It is a sad tale that Gutter Bagicha, once spread over approximately 1,400 acres, has shrunk to a tenth of its original size robbing the city of robust green lungs. The result is pollution hangs in a pall over most of Old Golimar perenially.

Thankfully, most of the coconut trees that were plant still survive but there is little else in the park. This is an appeal to the concerned authorities to include the park in the 2018 plantation campaign and revive this green belt.

Master Abdul Hameed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018