ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Rawalpindi Public Park, also known as Nawaz Sharif Park, is a picture of neglect because development and renovation work has stalled.

This is despite that the district administration has been allocating funds and awarding annual contracts for the refurbishing, renovation and repair of the park.

Opened in 1991, the park, sometimes also known as Shamsabad Public Park, is located on Benazir Bhutto Road opposite the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Renovation work at the park was contracted to a Lahore firm in early March.

The work was supposed to be completed by August but the contractor had abandoned the work halfway for sometime now, stating lack of payments as the reason.

Executive District Officer (Finance and Planning?), Rawalpindi district administration, Saqib Mannan, talking to Dawn, claimed that 50 per cent of the development and renovation work has been done. He said the contractor had been warned to resume work and complete it before Eidul Fitr.

However, the EDO admitted that only Rs1.7 million out of Rs20 million had been paid to the contractor so far.

Tehsil Municipal Administrator Talat Hussian Gondal said that the district administration was not satisfied with the pace of development work in the park.

Meanwhile, after failing to get development funds from the government of Punjab, the municipal administration has asked Rawal Town Administration to lend support by releasing Rs20 million to complete the project.

Rawalpindi Public Park is the only recreational site where the residents of Shamsabad, Sadiqabad, Cricket Stadium Double Road and other adjacent areas can enjoy their morning walk, jog and exercise. But it now looks like a place which has no owner.

The refurbishing of the walking track has not been done to the satisfaction of residents who go there for their daily walk and fitness programme. They complained that the black sand was too light and dusty, which is injurious to health.

Sajid, 36, a regular walker who has been active in inviting the attention of the district administration in improving facilities in the park, said that the latest development and renovation work was poorly planned and negligently executed.

An old walker, Haji Riaz, 69, complained of the uneven walking track which is hazardous for senior walkers like him.

Haji Wali, 74, said he had great expectations from the PML-N government to give this park top priority as it was constructed during Mian Nawaz Sharif's rule but he was disappointed.

The original master plan of the park is also being compromised in the name of economy.

A large fountain structure is being replaced by a smaller one and the surrounding area is being turned into a sitting place for visitors, but the construction and colour of the new fountain is substandard.

The umbrella structures around the park made of old wood has started crumbling even before being given their final touches.

Dust bins, stolen a long time ago, also badly need replacement as paper, edibles and shopping bags are littered every where.

Most neglected is the park's backyard. It is a picture of unsightliness consisting of clogged-up ditches, dried up ponds, uncut grass and a public lavatory which has long been unused because of seepage.