KARACHI: A giant national flag has been hoisted by the city’s municipal administration at the highest point of the under-renovation Ahmed Ali Park, better known as Kidney Hill Park, reinvigorating the scenic beauty of the recreational site spread over 62 acres.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Municipal Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman on Monday hoisted the 12x18 feet flag on a 40-foot high pole at the 209-foot highest point of the park that had become a haven for drug addicts and land grabbers.

The KMC under the supervision of the municipal commissioner had started the renovation work in the park a couple of months ago following the ruling of the Supreme Court against encroachments on amenity plots, footpaths and pavements.

The metropolitan commissioner told Dawn that the municipal administration had begun the development work at the park with the available resources, adding that the park would be a beautiful place to visit after renovation.

“The work has been under way for the past three months in the park which will be opened for citizens once the renovation is completed,” he said.

Mr Rehman said that over 18,000 trees and saplings had been planted in the park and more were being planted to make a city forest here.

He said the trees being planted in the park included the royal poinciana, sacred fig, Madras thorn, wild almond, fig, neem, guava, chikoo, cluster fig, banyans, coconut, babul, date palms, mango, pomegranates, custard apple and grape.

KMC anti-encroachment department officials said that over 20 acres of the park’s land were encroached upon by a housing cooperative society that had obtained a stay order. However, they said, the stay was vacated by the Sindh High Court and 17 bungalows constructed on the park’s premises were demolished.

The Kidney Hill Park, which remained inaccessible to citizens for over three decades, has been named after Prof Ahmed Ali, an eminent writer and poet.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2019