Public parks in Shadman need maintenance

LAHORE : The Punjab government has imposed ‘Green Lockdown’ in parts of Lahore to protect citizens from smog, but the miserable condition of public parks in a posh locality of Shadman presents a very disappointing picture regarding the performance of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

Not only the parks in Shadman need regular maintenance, some of them are even contributing to pollution and smog due to absence of grass which has been replaced by large piles of dust. The parks including Rehmania Park, Khursheed Park and one little park situated just outside Crescent Model School (gate number 1) are either maintained very seldom or completely ignored by the PHA staff. The most pathetic situation is seen at the park situated just outside the well know school of Shadman where there has been no cleanliness of maintenance at all. Broken benches and park fences, untrimmed trees and above all dust in big quantity have developed a very alarming situation.

Just inside the park, motorbikes are parked by the local residents or those who work in nearby areas. This is pertinent to mention that hundreds of students and their parents visit this area every day but families do not prefer to enter the park due to its shabby condition and high level of dust. Similarly, a visit to Rehmania Park reveals that water is accumulated just close to the entrance which remains gathered for many days and according to the visitors, the staff doesn't not drain it properly and it results in constant breeding of mosquitoes.

Almost similar situation prevails in Khursheed Park of Shadman where not only water is properly drained out but one area is totally occupied with tonnes of scrap, comprising the grills and iron once used as the fence of the wall. Ironically, PHA itself has an office in this park and what hurts people the most is that just nearly a kilometre away is the office of Director General PHA but no official has paid any attention to keep the public parks of Shadman clean. Moreover, Shadman is one of the posh localities of Lahore and Lahore itself the Provincial Metropolis from where Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has been elected.

The negligence on part of any state owned administrative body, whether it is CDGL of PHA invites direct criticism on the sitting government in the province. The News contacted PHA DG Tahir Wattoo but he did not pick up the phone. The spokesperson of PHA when contacted said parks were maintained properly and if there existed any issue, it would be addressed.