HILL Park was established in the 1960s. It is ideally located on top of a hill measuring 61 acres surrounded by Shahrae Faisal, Shaheed-i-Millat and Tariq Road.

Its beautiful landscape and design attracts visitors and city dwellers.

Some six years ago a budget of Rs200 million was approved for the renovation, beautification and infrastructure development of the park.

This budget was never utilised during that period. In 2016-17 work started with a lesser budget. New benches, gazebos were erected; a new lighting system was fitted, making it a safe place at night after many years of darkness.

Hundreds of new trees were planted too. However, the trees did not survive as no arrangements were made to water them.

Now in 2019, two massive underpasses started developing on Shaheed-i-Millat Road. For this excavation giant machines have been deployed with thousands of tons of earth being dug out every day and moved by big dumpers. Where do you think these thousands of tons of earth are being dumped? Outside Karachi or into the Malir river bed? No, you are wrong. It is all being taken to Hill Park.

All this dumping has destroyed the park’s landscape. The slopes are gone, the plantation finished, the entrance gates have been smashed by dumpers while the retaining wall has also been broken.

The natural balance of Hill Park has been destroyed and there is no argument to justify or explain what has happened.

Dr Khalil Mukaddam
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2019