Lady Garden Abbottabad becoming a thing of past

Park allotted to private company for construction of ‘Joy Land’

ABBOTTABAD: The Cantonment Board here has allotted seven kanal land of Lady Garden to a private company for construction of ‘Joy Land’ for a period of five years, The News has learnt.

The precious land of the Lady Garden, also known as Cantonment Park, was handed over to owner of Global International Abbottabad from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021 at the rate of Rs1.8 million per annum, according to the documents available with The News.It was learnt that the contracting firm will not pay any rent for the first four months and the period would be used to achieve mutually agreed targets.

The decision of Cantonment Board authorities to start commercial activity in a public park has caused resentment among the public, including civil society, lawyers, and social and political circles.

Zafar Iqbal, a lawyer who challenged construction in Cantonment Park through a writ petition in 2014, told this correspondent that the Cantonment Board authorities had clearly stated in a written statement in the high court that they would not change the status of the park and would not take any step that affects its greenery.

Hazara Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Qazi Azhar said they would not accept construction in the park and its use for commercial purposes.Sardar Fida Hussain, secretary Tehreek-i-Suba Hazara, said the act of Cantonment Board would worsen the environment of Abbottabad that has already been facing pollution.

He said if the Cantonment Board did not restore original position of Lady Garden, they would raise voice against it. Former MPA Naeema Nisar and Qaumi Watan Party district president Sheikh Nisar claimed that the construction work would affect the greenery of the garden.

Abdur Rehman Shaheen, a civil society activist, said that if the Cantonment Board needed revenue generation, it can initiate such an activity in any other place instead of the lone park for the general public.

He said the project seemed to be a blind decision of the authorities to make money at the cost of recreational activities of citizens.“This park has historic background. It has not served the citizens of Abbottabad only. Whoever visited Abbottabad from all over the country, this has been a place for enjoyment and recreation for them and it needs to be preserved,” he said.

Member Provincial Assembly Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha said he would raise the issue in the provincial assembly in the coming session if the Cantonment Board did not withdraw the decision.He said Lady Garden Park is the property of residents of the area and the Cantonment Board should remain custodian of the park to make it attractive and beautiful for visitors.