Indonesian govt to build park, renovate Soekarno Chowk

PESHAWAR: The Indonesian government has offered to establish a recreational park in Peshawar and renovate the historic Soekarno Chowk in Khyber Bazaar.Soekaro, also spelt as Sukarno (June 6, 901 -June 21 1970) was an Indonesian statesman and revolutionary who served as the first president of Indonesia from 1945 to 1967.

This offer was made at a meeting between Peshawar Division Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud and Fery Geniwan Merdinsyah, Head of Political Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy.During the meeting, the Indonesian delegation, led by Merdinsyah, offered a proposal to develop a park for the residents of Peshawar.

The delegation suggested the restoration and beautification of Soekarno Chowk. This place was named after Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, in 1974 by then-prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Indonesia.

The commissioner welcomed the initiative, expressing his gratitude to the Indonesian government for their efforts to enhance the recreational and cultural landscape of the city.He commended the gesture, stating that it would greatly benefit the people of Peshawar and further strengthen the ties between the two nations.

In line with the commissioner’s directives, the delegation, accompanied by the project engineer of the Peshawar Uplift Programme, toured various sites in the city, including Khyber Bazaar, to identify potential locations for the park and discuss the initial groundwork for the renovation project.