Parks And Trees URC

PARKS & TREES

1

Parks And Trees URC

Sindh govt directed to assess use of recycled water in parks

The Supreme Court-mandated Commission on Water and Sanitation has directed the government to look into the feasibility of converting sewerage into grey water for use in public parks. The commission after a hearing in on Monday, asked the government to take cue from the Fateh Park in district Central in this regard.

Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, the commission‟s chairperson, said he visited Fateh Park on the request of Central District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Chairperson Rehan Hashmi on January 12 to see how grey water is being used under a „green initiative‟ scheme by a local society. The commission observed that not just the park but also the vicinity is benefiting from the scheme‟s grey water which can be used for any purpose other than human consumption.

Hashmi informed the commission that he has planned to apply the scheme in other parks in the Central DMC. “Such schemes can make huge difference if introduced in larger parks like Karachi , Bagh-e-Jinnah, Bagh-e-Ibn-e-Qasim, Benazir park and Sarfari park,” noted Justice (retd) Muslim, adding that the pressure on filtered potable water will also be released this way.

He said grey water can be used for gardening and maintenance of green patches as well and that the process will also consequently reduce the discharge of sewage in the sea. He directed Sindh local government secretary to hold meetings with stakeholders in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the DMCs and Karachi Development Authority over the issue.

“The secretary should study the feasibility of the green initiative and its impact on the public at large.” The secretary will have to prepare the feasibility and submit report in the Supreme Court within a month. However, if the commission receives an extension from the apex court, the report should be submitted to the commission. (By Our Correspondent The Express Tribune, 04, 15/01/2019)

Askari Park reopens after six-month closure

Askari Park was reopened to the public after remaining closed for more than six months following a July 2018 accident when a merry-go-round in the facility collapsed, killing a teenage girl and injuring 15 other people, an official said on Wednesday.

He said the management was allowed to resume the business after all due formalities that included inspection of all rides and swings at the facility by local and foreign experts. The park was sealed by the authorities and closed to the public after its management was booked for “unintentional murder” of the girl. The official said that the park management had been changed and the new one met all the formalities as directed by the regulatory body.

“We have brought foreign experts and invited all the local ones under the supervision of the authorities concerned,” said retired Brigadier Shahzad of the park‟s new management while talking to reporters after reopening of the facility. “They all were certified which led to the issuance of an NOC [no objection certificate] from the authorities. To make sure, we have deployed a technical team which would keep monitoring all the installations round the clock. We have adopted all international measures so such an accident does not recur.” (By The Newspaper's Staff Reporter , 16, 14/02/2019)

PM to inaugurate fully renovated Bagh Ibne Qasim: mayor

Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Wednesday that the city‟s municipal administration had fully renovated and restored Bagh Ibne Qasim, said to be the biggest park in the country stretching over 130 acres, and it would be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 30.

Addressing a press conference at the iconic park to announce its complete renovation and reconstruction, he said that new irrigation system had been laid to solve the water issue for good as the park would be watered twice a day.

He said that water was being brought from Nehr-i-Khayyam through pipeline and supplied to the park after treatment.

The mayor said that the park was in a dilapidated condition due to negligence and its restoration was indeed a challenging task for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

He said that the KMC also removed different encroachments, including a four-storey building that stretched over an acre.

The mayor said that the poorly maintained sewerage lines had caused massive damage to the walls of the park.

He said that he was thankful to the Supreme Court for ordering action against encroachments.

2

Parks And Trees URC

City Council‟s parks committee chairman Khurrum Farhan, director general parks Afaq Mirza and media committee chairperson Sabheen Ghori were also present on the occasion.

The mayor said that 300 flowering trees were also planted in the park which miserably lacked such trees.

Responding to a question, he said that he was in contact with the Sindh governor, chief minister, local government minister and others for the improvement of the city. “I appeal to the prime minister to ensure that the province get its due share fully,” he said.

The mayor said that only the city had right on the money being given to the province by Bahria Town in the wake of Supreme Court‟s order. “A lot of [the] city‟s problems will be solved if this money is spent on Karachi and its district Malir,” he said.

The mayor said that the municipal administration would try to keep the park maintained through public private partnership.

Replying to another question, he said that action was still being taken against encroachments on parks and KMC land.

He said that owners of houses constructed illegally on the land of Hill Park had been given 30-day notice to vacate the possession of the park‟s land. “Hill Park will be made a model park after removal of all encroachments on its land,” he said. (By Tahir Siddiqui Dawn, 16, 28/03/2019)

Centre did not contribute in restoring Bagh Ibne Qasim: Khuhro

The Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh chapter President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday inaugurated a park in Karachi which has been developed by PPP‟s Sindh government. At a press conference in Hyderabad on Sunday Khuhro said although Khan inaugurated Bagh Ibne Qasim but the federal government did not contribute share of its funds for restoration of the park.

“The PM held out another fake promise for Karachi [allocation of Rs162 billion development funds] and he didn‟t give anything for the underdeveloped Ghotki district.” Khuhro flayed Khan for considering the proposition of a feudal lord for removing name of Benazir Bhutto from Benazir Income Support Program.

“But this program was named after Benazir after legislation of the National Assembly,” he contended, adding that the PPP will oppose every bid to remove her name from the poverty alleviation initiative.

The PPP‟s leader clarified that the party‟s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari opted to travel through the train after closure of Sukkur and Larkana airports. “But the train march evoked screams of the rulers.”

Khuhro criticised low attendance in Khan‟s public meeting in Ghotki, claiming that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Grand Democratic Alliance could only muster around 2,000 people for the event. He said like the former dictators Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, Khan also did not appear content with provincial autonomy as he complained in the public meeting that 18th Amendment has left the Centre bankrupt.

“The cat has come out of the bag. No one should forget that Pakistan has been formed by the four provinces together.” He argued that the provinces have still not been given complete autonomy pointing out that a recent resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly called for decentralising the authority for tax collections to the federating units.

The PPP Sindh‟s president said the PTI‟s government has not given any credible poverty reduction program, asserting that chicken, eggs and goats cannot reduce poverty. “Khan has formed a new ministry for the poverty alleviation but in practicalit y the ministry will only end up increasing the federal expenses.” (By Our Correspondent The Express Tribune, 05, 01/04/2019)

Karachi Zoo’s 150-year-old tree continues to mesmerise visitors

Old, gigantic trees have been steeped in myth and legend for thousands of years with each having a unique story and fable surrounding them. One such tree – a Banyan – graces the premises of Karachi Zoological Gardens, formerly known as Mahatma Gandhi Gardens. According to locals, the tree is more than 100 years old and despite its age it is still healthy and green.

Surviving countless seasons and storms, the magnificent tree has not only been home to many , insects and animals species but has also been providing shelter to human beings who visit the zoo.

Over the years, the said tree has sprouted 22 massive stems which have outgrown to mark territory for it, giving the impression that the tree has a family of several other trees surrounding it.

Due to its expansion, the tree displays various beautiful patterns and colours on an extensive landscape which greatly add to the historical value and aesthetics of the Zoo.

Zoo authorities claim that the tree is not only the oldest one in the zoo but it is also the oldest tree in Karachi.

3

Parks And Trees URC

Providing further details regarding its exact age, Zoo officials said that the tree was planted in 1870 by the British government. At the time, there was no sign of a zoo over there and the land was reserved for horse stables owned by British officials.

Zoo officials also informed The Express Tribune that when botanists and ecologists examined the tree upon hearing its age, they were stunned to see the way in which it has shaped itself to provide a habitat for various birds and animals.

Karachi Zoo Senior Director Muhammad Mansoor Qazi said that the Banyan tree is locally known as Bargad, while its scientific name is Ficus Benghalensis.

“Apart from providing shadow, the tree also has medicinal properties and its bark and leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicines.

For this reason, the tree used to be revered and worshipped by Hindus,” Qazi said. “Owing to its historic importance, the Zoo takes special care of the tree while effective measures are in place to ensure its safety and adequate supply of water,” he added. (By Shakir Sultan The Express Tribune, 05, 02/04/2019)

Control of Karachi's given to new department

With its collection of various exotic species, Safari Park was once an iconic recreation spot for the denizens of Karachi. But as the metropolis grew over the years, the numbers of the park‟s many visitors dwindled.

With the situation yet to improve, the animals of Safari Park now face a new threat on account of new management with no zoological or veterinary expertise.

On the directives of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the administration and control of Safari Park – together with Aladdin Park – has been taken away from the department of recreation and handed over to the department of parks and horticulture.

Safari Park has already appointed non-technical officers on many important posts and with this new move, the park will be completely deprived of wildlife experts, zoologists and veterinary doctors. To top it off, the department of parks and horticulture will utilise 109 acres of the park‟s territory to start a commercial theme park project.

In the past, the department of recreation has been looking after the management of Karachi Zoo, - Zoo, Safari Park and Aladdin Park.

The decision was made on the directives of Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, after which KMC‟s human resource department issued a notification which said that all the financial and administrative activities of the parks will now rest with the department of parks and horticulture.

An officer at Safari park, who requested anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the decision to hand over the park to a department, which has no expertise in the field, will create problems because the inexperienced staffers will not be able to understand the needs and moods of the animals. Moreover, they will not be aware of the care-taking techniques necessary to maintain wildlife.

“All the experts, zoologists and veterinary doctors have been either assigned to Karachi Zoo or the Landhi-Korangi Zoo, but they were also looking after the animals at Safari Park,” he said.

After the management of the park will be assigned to the department of parks and horticulture, the experts will not be able to work at Safari Park anymore.

“The post of director at Safari Park is technical in nature and, ideally, it should have been assigned to someone with a degr ee in Zoology or Veterinary Sciences. The current director of the park, however, does not have the required qualifications and only has experience in the field of land management,” the officer detailed.

Dr Kazim, an experienced veterinary doctor who was serving at Safari Park, retried last month.

The officer further explained that over the past 15 years, commercial activities have considerably increased in the park; rid es and swings and noisy go-karts have been installed in the parks to provide short-term entertainment to children. As a result, children have lost interest in nature and animals.

“In the past, there were around 600 species of animals in the park, which have now been reduced to 300,” the officer said.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had issued clear directives regarding the use of land, according to which a piece of land which has been designated for a specific purpose must only be used for that, and no commercial activities could be carried out on that land.

4

Parks And Trees URC

At present, Safari Park is spread over 207 acres of land of which around 100 acres has been reserved for open enclosures for wild animals. The amusement park section is based on three acres of land which is being run by a private company. The Go Aish Adventure Park, which was spread over another 10 acres of land, has been closed for the past four years.

The officer also told The Express Tribune that the actual intention of handing over the control of the park to the department of parks and horticulture is to commercialise a chunk of the land and turn it into a theme park based on 109 acres of land. He said that the plan was devised a year ago and has already been approved by the KMC. It has now been sent for Sindh government‟s final approval.

When approached, the former chairperson of Karachi University‟s Zoology Department, Sohail Barkati, said that the appointment of a wild life expert at Safari Park is mandatory to look after the animals as it is a standard requirement across the world.

“Qualified experts are hired by and safaris throughout the world as they are aware of animals‟ lifestyle, needs, and behaviours,” he said. “These things are crucial for taking care of the animals‟ health.”

Barkati expressed his grief over Safari Park being used for other purposes like amusement parks, events, and trade activities and said that two pleasures cannot be bought in one ticket.

“Safari Park was established with the aim of providing a natural habitat to animals and if amusement park rides will be installed near their enclosures, the animals will get disturbed and it will impact their health,” he warned.

He also added that if the government wants to increase revenue from Safari Park then, like international safaris, they should keep , zebras, hippopotamus and various other types of animals, which will attract the interest of people, and they will readily come to see them. In this way, the park will be able to increase its revenue as well.

Safari Park Director Kunwar Ayub – who has been holding the post for the past two years – told The Express Tribune that his post is not technical in nature but it requires administrative experience – an area wherein he is quite well-versed.

“In the past, Safari Park and Aladdin Park have already functioned under the department of parks and horticulture, therefore, it is a positive development that the department is being assigned the administrative control of the park once again,” he said.

He added that Safari Park is spread over 207 acres of land and the KMC is trying to utilise the land in the best possible way so that residents of Karachi are provided with all the facilities. He also rejected the claim that the change of management will affect the health and well-being of the animals, adding that the existing amusement park is situated at a considerable distance from animal enclosures, therefore, they are not disturbed by the activities at all.

“Due to lack of funds, lions and other wild animals cannot be bought by the park, however, at present, we have more than 300 species of birds and animals and the park nourishes them in the best possible way,” he elaborated. “Animals in the park are doing quite well and, if there is a need, they are also sent to Karachi Zoo.”

When questioned about the construction of a theme park within the premises of Safari Park, Ayub said that the plan is still pending with the Sindh government‟s Public-Private unit and it will only be implemented after approval. (By Syed Ashraf Ali The Express Tribune, 05, 04/04/2019)

I Am Karachi’s vertical garden project launched

In a concrete jungle such as this city where patches of green are becoming scarce, I Am Karachi (IAK) thought of an innovative way of going green by growing the Vertical Gardens of Karachi. One of these vertical gardens, on one of the massive pillars of the KPT Interchange at Qayyumabad, was inaugurated on Tuesday.

The project has been launched in partnership with Martin Dow Group.

The scheme is geared towards beautification of the city‟s infrastructure as it will constructively utilise concrete pillars by turning them into eco structures that will aid in making the environment cleaner by reducing urban heat and pollution.

A total of 18 such gardens to be set up in parts of the city

“We are using dumdum which grows well and fast here. One grown creeper hedge around the pillar will produce around 100 to 120 kilograms of oxygen per year which is equal to the needs of a family of four persons,” Ambreen Kazim Thompson, executive director of IAK, told Dawn. “It will also reduce noise pollution by five decibels per pillar and will require just five litres of water a week,” she added.

Some six pillars at the KPT Interchange had a short red brick wall encircling them with soil poured inside for the dumdum saplings to be planted in. They have been sponsored and adopted by the Martin Dow Group and will be conserved and sustained by TPL Corporation Ltd.

5

Parks And Trees URC

According to Ms Thompson, they would be starting some 18 vertical gardens in Karachi. “There are going to be six here in Qayyumabad at the KPT Interchange, another six in district East near Hasan Square and six more in Keamari,” she said.

The first one of these was a pilot project also at the KPT Interchange started a while ago by planting bougainvillea, money plant and dumdum of which dumdum did well. There have been other examples of live or green walls or vertical gardens where people have put up potted plants on the walls, which are stolen sometimes. However, this idea seems more sustainable.

The ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by officials and representatives from IAK and the sponsors, was followed by the planting of the dumdum saplings all around the pillar. (By Shazia Hasan Dawn, 15, 10/04/2019)

Hill Park destroyed

HILL Park was established in the 1960s. It is ideally located on top of a hill measuring 61 acres surrounded by Shahrae Faisal, Shaheed-i-Millat and Tariq Road.

Its beautiful landscape and design attracts visitors and city dwellers.

Some six years ago a budget of Rs200 million was approved for the renovation, beautification and infrastructure development of the park.

This budget was never utilised during that period. In 2016-17 work started with a lesser budget. New benches, gazebos were erected; a new lighting system was fitted, making it a safe place at night after many years of darkness.

Hundreds of new trees were planted too. However, the trees did not survive as no arrangements were made to water them.

Now in 2019, two massive underpasses started developing on Shaheed-i-Millat Road. For this excavation giant machines have been deployed with thousands of tons of earth being dug out every day and moved by big dumpers. Where do you think these thousands of tons of earth are being dumped? Outside Karachi or into the Malir river bed? No, you are wrong. It is all being taken to Hill Park.

All this dumping has destroyed the park‟s landscape. The slopes are gone, the plantation finished, the entrance gates have been smashed by dumpers while the retaining wall has also been broken.

The natural balance of Hill Park has been destroyed and there is no argument to justify or explain what has happened.

Dr Khalil Mukaddam Karachi (From the Newspaper Dawn, 09, 11/06/2019)

6