Daily Times

KARACHI: The Bahria Town administration will be the custodian of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, the biggest Park of Karachi, which spreading over 130 acre of land in Clifton, officials of Local Government Department (LGD) Sindh and Mayor Secretariat revealed.

According to the officials the long awaiting issue has been resolved and in an out of court settlement this was agreed after negotiations between officials of Bahria Town and Mayor’s office.

In this connection, Liaquat Ali Khan, former Director General, Parks and Horticulture Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, (P&HD KMC) is said to have played a central in resolving the issue.

It is pertinent to mention here that designing and development of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim on modern lines has been the creation of Liaquat Ali Khan and he had worked on the project during his tenure in the office.

Afaq Mirza, DG P&HD KMC has informed that because of expertise and keen interest on developing Bagh and other city parks as well, the offer of Liaquat Ali Khan has been welcomed by Mayor Karachi.

Malik Riaz, Chairman of Bahria Town has already expressed his willingness in the induction of Khan as an adviser and coordinator on the project and on grounds of his rich experience, officials of Mayor Secretariat confirmed.

Officials of Mayor Office have also stated that on close liaison of Mayor and Malik, Bagh would be renovated on modern lines with ample food and other amusement activities for visitors.

In this connection, there would be no concrete construction within the boundaries of Bagh, however, wooden edifice/cabins for fast food and refreshment would be proposed.

An estimated investment of Rs 250 million would be needed on the project and this will be solely the responsibility of Bahria Town, while revenue earnings from visitors to Bagh would be collected by P&HD KMC.

Conflict between LGD, Sindh and KMC over funds has been a deadlock since 2013 resulting disagreement of two bodies which ruined horticulture work on Bagh.

Earlier, Bahria Town administration had been awarded maintenance job on Bagh for one year by P&HD through a work order worth Rs 17.2 million on March 22, 2016, but entity remained powerless on account of conflict between LGD and KMC.

Fruitless efforts were also made in past as one private contractor, Khalid Khan had been given maintenance contract of Bagh for 2013-15 period on papers by KMC, but no work was carried out.

In another failed effort, Shahabuddin, a private contractor had also been given maintenance job but on unknown reasons, he had not been paid for his short work. And finally, Bahria Town administration has become a custodian of Bagh.

A stay order from Sindh High Court against LGD that had been prayed by Mayor Karachi on Bagh issue in first week of April 2017 would likely to be withdrawn after this settlement, Mayor Secretariat officials hoped.