‘130-acre Bagh Ibne Qasim open for public’

Karachi administrator Iftikhar Shallwani ordered multiple uplift measures on Sunday for improving the condition of Bagh Ibne Qasim, announcing that it had been opened for public. He said the park would remain open for the public daily from 9pm to 6pm.

The administrator said no entry fee would be charged from citizens visiting the park, spread over 130 acres, despite significant amounts of funds and staff required for the facility’s upkeep.

Presenting an alternative for garnering funds for the park’s maintenance, he said different parts of the facility would be named after different countries that would be approached for taking up the responsibility of maintaining the park.

He also directed relevant officials to immediately remove debris piled up on the park’s rear side, level the ground and plant grass. He further ordered the repair of dysfunctional flood lights and installation of more lights.

Parks Director-General Taha Saleem told him that out of 36 light towers in the parks, just 10 were working.

The parks director-general also informed the administrator that multiple companies had shown interest in setting up an aquarium in the park. At this, the administrator sought more details on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2020.