Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday inaugurated five parks, including the Lal Qila Park in the Azizabad area of District Central constructed at a cost exceeding Rs687.676 million with the cooperation of the Karachi Development Authority.
Karachi Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) General Secretary Rauf Nagori, Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council Dil Muhammad and a large number of residents were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the mayor said the new parks included Lal Qila Park, Chhota Park, Moor Park, Aziz Municipal Park and another park. The total area of these parks is nearly five acres, and after the completion of renovation and beautification work, they have been opened for the public.
Wahab said all these parks were previously vacant and in a state of neglect. He added that the revival of public parks in Karachi was an important part of his vision, while the improvement of parks in Azizabad was a practical example of the commitment to making the city greener.
Providing a healthy and recreational environment to the public, he added, was among the top priorities of the KMC. He said the Lal Qila Park had been equipped with modern facilities, including jogging tracks, children’s swings, green areas, fiber-cast RCC seating areas, and modern wooden benches. In addition, boundary walls, designed walls and mock rock RCC gazebos had also been constructed.
He said electrification and landscaping work had been completed in Chhota Park and Moor Park had been upgraded on modern lines, featuring a selfie point, fountain, family areas, modern electrification, LED floodlights and garden lights. Iron gates, grill work and garden poles had also been installed to enhance the park’s beauty.
According to the mayor, underground water tanks, piston pumps and motors had been installed in the parks, and plantation work had also been carried out. Fiberglass dustbins had also been placed to provide a clean environment for citizens.
He said parks and green areas across Karachi were being equipped with modern facilities, and the process of rehabilitation and improvement of parks to promote a greener environment in the city would continue.
Wahab said the areas where dust and soil once filled the air had now been restored and opened to the public in a modern manner, with walking tracks and recreational facilities for women, senior citizens and children.
He noted that children of the localities were especially happy with these developments. He urged the citizens to support the KMC in maintaining these parks and cooperate with the committees formed for all five parks so that these facilities could be preserved for the future generations.
He said 2026 was the year of completion of development projects, and citizens would see the construction of major roads, internal streets, parks and playgrounds, which would directly benefit the common residents of Karachi.
He expressed gratitude to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh chief minister and Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah for their support to the KMC. Expressing grief over the deaths in the Gul Plaza fire, the mayor said government representatives and people of Karachi stood firmly with the bereaved families. He informed that a comprehensive inquiry report regarding the incident had been presented before the cabinet committee so that an effective strategy could be devised to prevent such tragedies in the future.
He said the land of Gul Plaza belonged to the KMC and was leased in 1884 to a tram company for 99 years. Later, the land was sold in different periods, while the lease was not renewed up to 1991. He added that investigations were under way to determine why the Sindh Building Control Authority remained silent during that period and what arrangements were in place regarding fire safety.
Wahab said the CM had announced that the Sindh government would construct and provide the same number of shops to the affected traders. He added that Karachi was the only city in Pakistan in which every political party had a stake, therefore all must move forward with a positive mindset. He said that politicising tragedies was inappropriate; blame was easy, but real progress required performance.
He said that if the relevant towns did not repair the damaged roads around the parks, he himself would ensure that the work was done. Referring to federally controlled institutions, he said the condition of the Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines and Railways was before everyone. He appealed to all political parties and citizens to work together for the development of the city, stating that no force could stop Karachi’s progress.
