KARACHI: Gulshan-i-Jinnah Park, better known as Polo Ground, was on Monday opened for public by the city municipal administration after the completion of it renovation.

While opening the park, Mayor Wasim Akhtar said the renovation work was completed, but the formal inauguration of the 23-acre park would be held after the complete installation of a musical fountain in the park.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, he said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was also developing new parks in the city besides restoring and renovating the existing ones and through eliminating encroachments.

The mayor said the historical park was devastated due to negligence of the authorities. “Therefore, we started its restoration, which is now in its final stage,” he added.

Mr Akhtar said the wooden bridge in the centre, jogging track, China hut and beautiful lake gave a pleasing look to this recreation place.

He said Jheel Park, Hill Park, Aziz Bhatti Park, Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim and other existing parks of Karachi were also being renovated and restored.

The mayor said encroachments from parks were also being removed on the orders of the Supreme Court.

He said that working relationship was established between the KMC and provincial local government minister. However, the government still had to transfer Rs200 million in the KMC account, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2019