KARACHI, July 13: The city government has failed to implement the ban imposed by it on swimming and bathing at city beaches as high tides in the Arabian Sea continue to pose threat to the picnickers' lives.

The city government has imposed a complete ban on any kind of picnics at Neelam point, Cape Montz, Sonhera point, Kanup point and Mubarak village for three months. The visitors are allowed only to visit Hawkesbay, Sea View, Sandspit and other beaches, but swimming and bathing are strictly prohibited there as well.

However, the picnickers are defying the ban as the city government officials concerned and the police personnel detailed there have miserably failed to stop them raising the chances of any untoward incident.

Despite the tall claims of the authorities concerned regarding the security and precautionary measures at the city beaches, four youths had drowned in the sea during the last two months.

According to a CDGK official, there is an acute shortage of lifeguards and police personnel at the city beaches due to which the city government has failed to implement the ban.

Currently, only 46 lifeguards of the city government have been deputed at the city beaches, which stretched over 35km. About eight volunteers of an NGO also serve as lifeguards at the beaches on Sunday.

"The police deputed on the beach do not perform their duties regularly, which provide easy chance to the visitors to go into the deep sea, the city government official said.

Only eight police personnel with horses have been appointed per beach only on Sundays", he said.

"On Sunday, police mobiles also patrol on Haweksbay Road and restrict the picnickers from going to the sensitive areas but they deceive the police and enter the prohibited areas ", he added.

"Though the city government has fixed red-flag at beaches to alarm the citizens not to cross it but the visitors do not care and enter into the deep sea", the official said.—Online