KOHAT, May 1: In the wake of militant attacks and heightened security for government installations during the past few years, the people of Kohat have been deprived of whatever recreation facilities they had in the shape of small parks, walking tracks, playgrounds, library etc in the city where they could pass their leisure moments.
All these facilities falling in the cantonment area or near it are now out of bounds for citizens, who have virtually no other place in this small city to go for a solace in the present day busy life.
Just a few years ago there was a grand library in the centre of city near the King Gate of main bazaar where besides residents, people from surrounding villages coming for business or other purpose would spend an hour or two reading books and daily newspapers.
The authorities have recently constructed plazas and shopping centers on the place of library for generating handsome revenue.
Though the government has allocated a piece of land for the library in the KDA Town, which is located far away from the city centre, work has still not been started on its construction.
Besides, the famous Durrani Fort, near the natural springs, has been almost obscured by a protection wall constructed around it. The wall, built two years ago, has also deprived the youth of Kohat of a big playground, where once big cricket and football matches used to be played.
Several roads, especially the mesmerizing Thandi Sarak in the cantonment where local people would enjoy evening and morning walk, have also been closed. It was not long ago when people used to sit in the lawns of cantonment under the perching trees and enjoy chirping birds in the centuries old banyan trees with their branches creating an ideal shades for long sitting in hot weather.
Besides, no steps have been taken for the preservation of historical British era gates in the city. There were eight main gates around the whole city for the protection of residents from ferocious tribesmen who used to fight with the British over the control of Darra Adam Khel, Orakzai and Kurram agencies.
The famous Tehsil Gate was removed a few years back by the police for the widening of the way and establishment of shops and a room for the policemen. Sources claimed that the British era gate was sold as scrap. A similar gate at the end of the Bannu bazaar has also disappeared and the quarters concerned told this correspondent that the lamps and gates were not present in the stores of the old tehsil municipal administration’s building.
The name of King Gate, which connects the main bazaar with the city circular road, was also changed and renamed as Shah Faisal Gate during the time of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
