KARACHI: Administra­tor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Friday said that the master plan of the city would be prepared by the next elected mayor and City Council.

“The elected mayor will carry out long-term uplift projects as I have been made administrator for a short period of time so I am carrying out short-term and immediate work,” he said while inaugurating the three-day Marigold Festival at Karachi Zoo.

Thousands of two varieties of marigold along with eight other species of winter seasonal flowers in over 10,000 plants added colour to the zoo. Besides the yellow and white varieties of marigold, plants of Stock, Petunia, Pansy, Antrimum, Dianthus, Calandola, Dahalia, Impetanis and Crysenthemum were also on display.

Barrister Wahab, who is also the provincial government’s spokesman and chief minister’s adviser on law, said that thousands of people were witnessing flower show at Mughal Garden.

“The doors of Mughal Garden of Karachi Zoo will remain open to the public till Sunday for Marigold Festival,” he added.

He said that the municipal administration wanted to decorate the whole city with flowers. “The purpose of this festival at Karachi Zoo is to hold flower display for nearby areas,” he added.

The administrator said that the Karachi Zoo was the cheapest zoo in the country where the entrance fee was Rs15 for children and Rs30 rupees for adults.

“The purpose is to provide relief to the citizens. In a month, Rs10 million has been collected from the zoo, which will be spent on maintenance and development of the zoo,” he added.

He said that the private organisations and corporate companies should come and organise their programmes in Mughal Garden of Karachi Zoo so that they could benefit from the facility of the historical garden, adding that it would also increase the revenue of the zoo.

Replying to a question, he said that KMC hospitals were handed over to the provincial government and not to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

“Abbasi Shaheed Hospi­tal was built by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and we are going to improve it. The hospital was run in the wrong way which is why it has been ruined,” he added.

He said that a letter had been written to the administration of Askari Park for taking over its possession, adding that KMC would get possession of Askari Park soon.

Barrister Wahab said that Gutter Bagheecha covered an area of 1,016 acres and 162 acres had been allotted for the park.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2022