Aziz Bhatti Park suffers decrepitude

In times of pervasive chronic stress, open air recreation spots like public parks are an essential outlet for allowing the overworked, inflation-battered populace of the city to unwind in the relaxing company of nature. Yet, for locals in Karachi stuck in an expanding concrete jungle, the gradual state of decline of green zones like the Aziz Bhatti Park, has left little or no space for people to breathe fresh air.

The Aziz Bhatti Park located in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, spanning about six acres of land, was once a go-to spot for families looking to spend a day-out in lush greenery, with ample arrangements made for seating, shade, lighting, food, swings, sports activities and boating.

Fast forward to today, the once popular park is left in a state of utter ruin, given the lack of funds dedicated to the upkeep and upgradation of facilities at the park, which are no longer of any appeal to locals in Karachi.

Mohammad Shaukat, a local who has been visiting the Aziz Bhatti Park since the past four decades, revealed his disappointment at witnessing the current condition of his favourite recreation spot. “During the early 90’s, people preferred to visit the Aziz Bhatti Park instead of going to the Safari Park. This park hosted a variety of tall trees and vibrant flowerbeds. The scenery was so eye-catching that television and film content used to be shot here. A separate playground was available for children to play cricket, football and hockey, while three boats used to operate at the lake. In addition to this, a proper canteen also used to serve visitors,” recalled Muhammad Shaukat, who felt that as a result of KMC’s negligence, the park has gradually fallen into a dilapidated condition.

Shedding light on the current state of the Aziz Bhatti Park, an official from the management of the recreation ground, disclosed that the park did not fall into a state of disrepair overnight. “The park’s maintenance has been neglected since the past 15 years due to the non-availability of funds.

Most of the benches and canopies in the front portion of the park have broken down and the children's swings are so obsolete that they can break at any point. The sports grounds have been taken over by a private academy, which charges a fee from children interested in playing.

The lake’s water has also become polluted, but children still manage to swim in the murky water without any restrictions from the security officers. The surrounding forests have been cut down. Furthermore, no proper security arrangements are in place at the park, with the side walls of the Karachi Circular Railway broken. This allows miscreants to sneak in at night and snatch mobiles or harass women,” confirmed the official.

“Upgradation work on the jogging track and playground at the back side of the park has been stalled for many years due to a lack of funds. Moreover, a large number of staff are absent at the Aziz Bhatti Park, due to which the management of the park is below par.

If the staff’s attendance is improved, the movement of miscreants and criminal elements can be restrained and children can also be prevented from swimming in the murky lake,” opined Dr Syed Nawaz Al Huda, a regional planner.

Speaking of the lake’s murky water, Zohaib Ahmad, a photographer, also shed light on the impact of the polluted water body on the migratory patterns of birds. “Up until ten years ago, a large number of local and migratory birds came to the Aziz Bhatti Park lake for rest and food. Sadly, today very few birds can be spotted at the lake, due to the contaminated water,” he regretted.

In his defense, the Director General Parks, Junaid Khan assured that efforts were underway to implement some projects for the improvement of the park.