PHA faces task that needs deep pockets

LAHORE:

The condition of many parks and greenbelts in the metropolis is deteriorating due to lack of maintenance caused by shortage of funds and negligence of the officials concerned.

In view of the need for recreational facilities for the citizens, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has issued instructions to his staff to improve the situation while utilising the existing resources.

Contrary to the claims of spending billions of rupees annually on the beauty of Lahore by the provincial government, the parks of the city appear to be facing neglect.

The PHA is responsible for beautifying the parks and greenbelts across the city. The provincial capital has 813 parks and greenbelts spread over 3,000 hectares.

Among the major parks of Lahore, the condition of Jilani Park, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Greater Iqbal Park and Lawrence Garden is very good, but most recreational spots in other areas are in a dilapidated condition.

Similarly, the greenbelts along The Mall road, Jail Road, Gulberg Main Boulevard, Liberty roundabout, canal, Shaukat Khanum Road, Raiwind Road, Iqbal Town, Johar Town, Garden Town and Faisal Town are in a better condition.

These areas were the parks and greenbelts appear neglected include the region across Ravi river, north Lahore, Pakistan Mint, Sumanabad, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Ferozepur Road, Farrukhabad, Garhi Shahu, Egerton Road, Lahore Railway Station, Sabzazar, Saddar Bazaar, Taj Bagh, Harbanspura, Krishan Nagar, Rivers Garden, Islampura, GT Road, Mughalpura, Upper Mall, Ravi Road, Lorry Adda and Badami Bagh.

The lights and other facilities in the parks and greenbelts, which are the main source of recreation for the residents of these areas are decreasing with time.

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The PHA has divided Lahore into nine zones instead of the earlier five to help the officers responsible solve the problems in a better way in the deficient areas.

Official documents show that the annual budget of the PHA is around Rs4.9 billion, of which Rs3.63 billion is spent on salary of the employees.

The authority receives a Rs1.9 billion annual grant from the Punjab government, while about Rs1.3 billion is collected from its own sources.

The funds available for development work are negligible.

A social activist said grants received from the federal and provincial governments by the members of the National and Punjab assemblies helped improve the condition of parks and greenbelts in their areas, but the elected representatives from the opposition complained that they did not receive development funds.

Due to the deteriorating condition of the parks and greenbelts in most areas of the city, the recreational facilities for the residents are decreasing, a citizen, Muhammad Sohail, said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Another resident, Rizwan Ahmed, said the government claimed to spend billions of rupees annually on beautifying Lahore, but it was not evident where the money was spent.

PHA Director General Zeeshan Javed confirmed in reply to a question that the authority was facing problems because of lack of funds.

“But our effort is to use the available resources to build parks and greenbelts instead of asking for funds from the government,” he said.

He said instructions had been issued to all the officers concerned in this regard and work for improving the facilities had also been started on a regular basis.

“Our endeavour is to improve and beautify large parks as well as those in low income areas so that all citizens have recreational facilities,” he added.

The DG said there would be no place for negligent employees in the authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2022.