Family parks to boost tourism

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister Local Government, Elections and Rural Development, Meena Khan Afridi, has said that construction of family parks in multiple cities of the province under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) would mitigate climate change impacts, enhance community health, rehabilitate biodiversity, and attract tourism.

The LGE&RDD, under its KPCIP initiative, has been constructing several family parks in three divisional cities, including Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Mingora.

"In addition to promoting tourism, the initiative aims to ensure a healthy, safe, and gender-inclusive environment for families with all modern facilities available," said Meena Khan Afridi during his visit to Abbottabad.

Supported financially by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), KPCIP is being implemented in five divisional cities: Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mingora, Kohat, and Mardan.

He said that the green spaces initiative was about reclaiming urban space for people, especially families, women, and children, who too often find cities crowded, adding that these parks were not just patches of green; rather, carefully designed ecosystems of leisure, safety, and sustainability. "Under these initiatives, more than 20,000 trees would be planted, while the thick pine forest in Abbottabad's Sherwan hill family park would be preserved," he said

Sharing details of the park, he said that work was underway on the Bagh-e-Naran Extension Park and Besai Park in Hayatabad, Peshawar. These parks would feature dedicated jogging and cycling tracks, open-air gyms, volleyball and basketball courts, and recreational facilities for children.

 

 

 

Spaces for food services and outdoor entertainment platforms are also being integrated, creating a vibrant public environment where communities can gather, unwind, and reconnect.

Meanwhile, in Mingora, a modern park, Mingora Neighbourhood Family Park, is in its final stage of completion, which focuses on accessibility and inclusivity. The design includes landscaped green lawns, permeable walking tracks constructed with environmentally friendly tuff tiles, and a wide variety of seating options, including benches and gazebos. Children's play areas equipped with slides, seesaws, monkey bars, and swings will offer safe and engaging spaces for younger visitors. The park will also include two designated parking areas, recycling bins to promote waste management, public washrooms, and extensive plantation to enhance the natural landscape.

In Abbottabad, the initiative takes on an added ecological dimension. "The Sherwan Hill Family park, being developed here, focuses on the preservation of existing pine forests alongside additional plantation efforts," he said.

"Importantly, the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), the minister said. He said that the initiatives would create employment opportunities during construction and operation phases, and boost tourism and local economic activity.

Project Director Hameedullah Shah, speaking on the occasion, said that the approach not only safeguards local biodiversity but also strengthens the park's role as a natural carbon sink, contributing to CO? sequestration and improved oxygen production to cope with climate change.

He said that these parks would have solar-powered parking sheds to enable the utilization of renewable energy, reducing reliance on conventional power sources. "Urban forestry components are being integrated to enhance environmental quality, improve air purification, and restore ecosystem services within city landscapes," he added.

He said that the initiatives aim to encourage physical activity such as walking, jogging, and cycling, especially among women, which would contribute to improved public health, potentially easing long-term pressure on healthcare systems. "Thousands of jobs are expected to be generated through this initiative, both directly and indirectly, offering livelihoods while reshaping the urban fabric of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa," he reiterated.