Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar Sunday said that kidney hill park, where trees of 40,000 types planted, would be opened for public after lockdown.
While visiting the park, Akhtar said that a large number of people wanted the park to be opened forthwith but their wish cannot be fulfilled as gathering could pave the way for spread of novel coronavirus. Senior Director Coordination Masood Alam, Director Media Management Ali Hassan Sajid and others were also present on the occasion.
The Mayor said that all parks, zoos and other such places would remain closed until the situation gets normal. He said that the park is a gift for Karachiites from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. “The park is established at the top and the people would enjoy the city’s beautiful view from here,”
“The park’s land was encroached where residential and commercial units were established but the encroachment has been removed,” he added. He said that widened roads are being made and walk through gates are also being installed at entrance. The KMC is spending all amounts for the park on its own.
The Mayor was of the view that they tried to plant traditional trees including Neem, Mango, Papaya, and Coconut in the kidney hill park. He said that the land was handed over to KMC in 1974 but since then the park could not be established here.
Appreciating the efforts of KMC employees and officers, Akhtar said that they had done a brilliant job in the supervision of Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif ur Rehman.
Besides, he also asked Director Parks to ensure watering of plants at green belts and across the city and make them trimmed for further beautification. “The trees and plants of other parks should also be looked after on daily basis.
He also directed that staffers of Baghe Ibn e Qasim, Polo Ground, Baghe Jinnah, Hill Park, Safari Park and Aziz Bhatti Park should be called in different shifts. Akhtar also directed the parks managements not to call staffers of aged 55 or more as they are more vulnerable to coronavirus.