Public parks are supposed to be recreation spots for people to relax and take a break from work; however instead of happily treading toward the walking trails or gearing for a lazy stroll, visitors are often seen bickering with the fee collectors at the gates of Lake View Park.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) awarded the tender to a private company on April 19 to collect fees from visitors. Since then the administration has decided to charge Rs10 per person irrespective of their age or circumstances. They also charge a fee of Rs10 for parking cars, Rs5 for motorcycles and Rs30 for buses. The authorities say this is being done to generate revenues to meet the heavy expenditures as the civic body is currently facing a deficit.
The contractor Fazal-e-Wahab and sons have set up a cabin at the entrance of Lake View Park and have deployed six people to collect the money. Majority of the poverty-stricken people are often seen arguing with the fee collectors. Exchange of harsh words has become a routine at the main entrance of these ‘recreational places’.
Official sources said The Express Tribune that CDA had awarded the contract of Rs20.2million to Fazal-e-Wahab and sons without meeting the required criteria or getting approval from the cabinet division.
However the main reason behind this was to overcome the deficit CDA is currently facing and other miscellaneous expenditures, sources said.
“The civic administration have started charring Rs10 per person as entry fee in order to pay salaries of the 300 members deputed as caretakers at the Lake View Park,” sources said. They revealed the park generates Rs40,000-50,000 daily, which goes up to as much as Rs100,000 on a weekend.
The visitors, while both concerned and angry, called it an unjust practice. “There is no park in the world where administration charges visitors; it is the responsibility of civic bodies to facilitate us instead of charging us fees,” said Muhammad Yasin, a visitor.
High school students from Jhang on a trip to the park were not happy either.
Ali Zeeshan, a student, said the entry fee would discourage visitors from visiting the park.
CDA Spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said, “CDA can not continue to sell plots to meet expenses, therefore the current collection of fees is the best way to make all the parks self-sustainable.”
He added, “How it is possible for the administration to bear all expenses especially with the huge electricity bills piled up?’’ When asked if it was the prime responsibility of the administration to provide free of charge facilities in the park, he said that the all the parks in big cities including Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi charge visitors for admission.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2011.
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