CHINIOT: The Dilkhushab Park, constructed on 10 acres, in 2017 has become a grazing ground for cattle.

The biggest park of the city was established by the Chiniot municipal authorities to provide recreational facilities to some 50,000 residents of the slum area of the city located along Chiniot-Sargodha Road.

Although the boundary wall of the park was constructed and benches were installed, the contractor did not complete the installation of swings and horticulture work at the site.

The scheme, which was originally executed with Rs10 million by the Punjab Public Health Engineering Department was not formally handed over to the municipal corporation for its maintenance.

Since 2017, the park remained unattended and gradually became the hangout of street criminals and drug addicts who stole the parts of the iron fences. Now, cattle are seen grazing the plants in the park. The jogging track has also developed potholes.

Sarfraz Bhatti, councillor of the area, told Dawn that they had pointed out the substandard work in 2017 but local governments were dissolved which also suppressed the issue. Now when the local bodies have been restored, “I’ll get adequate funds to repair and maintain the park”.

Mehr Khalid, Municipal Corporation of Chiniot chairman, said the park was not formally handed over to the MC, however, he would take the matter to the quarters concerned.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021