Trial biking for fund raising

It feels that vagaries of weather and devastation by flood because of monsoon rain have become part of Pakistan fate. This year again it has brought havoc across the country.

And that recall me something way back in 2010 when Kenny Belaey, the world champion in trial bike from Belgium, exhibited his breathtaking skills in Bagh e Ibn e Qasim. He was touring Pakistan in an effort to raise funds for the victims of the devastating floods in the country and performed in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in special shows.

In Karachi Belaey showed off his tricks at famous city monuments such as Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, French Beach and obviously Bagh-e-Ibn-e-Qasim, where hundreds of people showered applause on him for his sublime art and selfless cause.  "I saw the suffering and misery of the people left homeless by the floods and I felt I had to do something to raise money and shelter for these people," Belaey said after the performance. Lots of money was raised that day alone in Bagh Ibn e Qasim. "Spirit of the Pakistani people had convinced me to come to Pakistan," he added.

In need, Bagh Ibn e Qasim has always offered a great platform.

For feedback;              parks.karachi@hotmail.com

Kothari Parade; heritage well preserved via Bagh Ibn e Qasim

If Taj Mahal is a magnum opus of love built by Mughal Emperor Shahjhan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Begum, the Jahangir Kothari Parade in Karachi is also no less than an architectural wonder of dedication to one’ better half.

It was desire of Lady Lloyd, wife of then Governor of Bombay Lord George Lloyd, to be able to walk up to the sea, without getting her feet wet. So, on a personal wish of her a Parade leading to the Arabian Sea was initiated in 1919 and completed a year later. It was financed by a Parsi philanthropist, Jehangir Kothari and named after him. The Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim has been developed around the Jehangir Kothari Parade and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on February 27, 2007 as the Pakistan’s biggest park.

Mr. Jehangir gifted the monument along with a handsome donation Rs. 300,000 to the Municipality for the development of recreational facilities. Supervised by the top British architect of the times, E. B. Hoare, the Kothari Parade is so called because it consists of a main promenade that serves as a gathering platform, through which a number of wide steps descend to a walkway, which stretches some half a kilometer towards a covered pavilion. This pavilion at the time of its construction was built right above the crashing waves of the Clifton beach. These interconnected structures allow a visitor to view the sea from different heights and angle.

The Kiosk at one end of the parade, with its elliptical roof structure, built in Jodhpur stone, has an octagonal seat in the center and was used as a Bandstand in yester-years. The pier is 1300 ft long, 15 ft (4.6 m) wide and ends in a 70 ft (21 m) by 50 ft (15 m) sea-side Pavilion constructed on piles. The whole monument was constructed by an amalgamation of Jodhpur sandstone and Gizri limestone (Jodhpur is a location in current-day India, while Gizri, then was part of the outer region of Karachi)

However, the most striking part of the whole monument is the bandstand or cupola of pink Jodhpur stone. Built at the western part of the grand monument, it is defined by four tall pillars at each end, topped by carved motifs, while carved balustrade and podium walls add a unique charm to the structure.

The development of the Bagh Ibn e Qasim, was also an attempt to preserve the heritage of Kothari Parade. The Parade is indeed in better condition at the moment compared to the time of the old Toyland Theme Park, when it was used to be occupied and stained with various encroachments.

Well maintained, more prominent and glittering and ever cleaned by the efficient and dedicated workforce associated with the Bagh Ibn e Qasim, the elegance of the monument has enhanced in multiple times. The Yellow Stone work just looks embellished on the lush greenery of the Park and the serenity of Bagh Ibn e Qasim extends it a touch of class. A phenomenal attraction for tourists of Karachi, indeed.

For feedback;              parks.karachi@hotmail.com

Bagh e Ibn e Qasim; Karachi’ modern identity

Alongside the Arabian Sea at Clifton, the Bagh Ibn e Qasim holds perhaps the most significant attention for tourists arrived in Karachi. Royal architecture, amazing aura, serene sceneries and countless attractions, the Bagh symbolizes the socio recreational identity of the city. Truly Karachi has a royal distinction, and Bagh Ibne Qasim is the jewel in the crown of the city indeed.

The Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim has been developed around the Jehangir Kothari Parade and was inaugurated on February 27, 2007. It is the Pakistan’s biggest park constructed under Clifton Beach Development Project on 130 acres (0.53 km²) of land, replacing the old Toyland Theme Park. Before the project was launched, more than half of the park area was encroached with nearly 450 various encroachment sites.

The CDGK contributed Rs500 million on the 130-acre garden. The Bagh cost Rs. 600 million in total and has been completed in 300 working days. Ten thousand eight hundred trees have been transplanted in the garden. Over 3,000 stone benches and twenty canopies erected. There are 1,500 dustbins to keep the lawns clean. One hopes visitors to the park use them and keep this garden clean.

To keep the premises lively at night, 30 lighting towers — each carrying 24 powerful bulbs — twenty arena vision floodlights and over 1,000 footlights are installed. One hundred twenty acres are used for lawns and paths, walking and other structures have been built on the remaining 10 acres.

More than 10 million people visited the park per year while it is so enormous it can accommodate at least 300,000 people at a time.

While visiting the beautiful and well-maintained park provides one with a sense of ease and tranquility but it is the historical monuments in foreground that gives it a greater degree of significance. The Jahangir Kotahri Parade, the Bagh e Ibn e Qasim Mosque, the Bandstand of pink Jodhpur stone, Hindu temple of Lord Shiva and obviously the lush green as well as flowering capacity of the Park itself are just few things to name.    
As a whole Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim together with adjacent monuments and sea view create such a fine setting that it surely will cast a spell on anyone who relishes a combination of history and nature.

For feedback;              parks.karachi@hotmail.com

Karachi’ Parks & Horticulture Authority; A case of misused authority

Things don’t look clean and green in the Parks and Horticulture Authority of Karachi, the sole department to run and manage city’ affairs related to parks, gardens and green belts come under CDGK. The institution was constituted and converted from Parks & Garden Department, CDGK to Parks and Horticulture Authority Karachi couple of years ago and since then it is being run under the Director General Liaquat Ali Khan.

However, there is a serious question mark on the eligibility of Liaquat Ali Khan.   A three-year extension given to the retiring director-general of the city government parks and horticulture department is already under observation as it was against the spirit of the Supreme Court’s observation that the government should refrain from granting extension to retiring officials as such an act blocks the promotion of their subordinates.

However, more concerns has been observed in management and staff’ appointments in the Parks and Horticulture Authority. The three latest parks developed in Karachi under Liaquat Ali Khan are Beach Park, Bagh e Ibn e Qasim and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park cost billions of rupees. But they all three located within a diameter of 100 meter, which shows nothing but ill- planning and wastage of money on behalf of the Director General.

These parks have lost their beauty and greenery just because of mismanagement by authorities. Like the Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim’ maintenance has been outsourced to a private company through a tender amounting millions of rupees per year but it is the staffers of the government’ authority who are doing the job. Built at the cost of around Rs1 billion it was the then most expensive park of the country but within five years after its inauguration, the park shows a picture of misery and has been badly ruined by the untrained and unequipped staff of the Parks and Horticulture Authority. Even the vehicles for lifting garbage and watering the plants (which is the job of private contractor) are belonged to the Parks Department.

Interestingly Liaquat Ali Khan is surviving himself on extension as the Director General of the Authority but he has hired around 1,500 persons in the department on the ground that the department lacked staffers to look after its parks. Most of these persons are either retired staffers of former Parks Department of CDGK or the relatives of Liaquat Ali Khan.

Like Mr. Tahir Rizvi is a retired official of the defunct KMC but now working as a consultant of Parks and Horticulture Authority. Similarly the brother-in-law of DG Parks, Adnan, who was originally appointed in Grade-1 as gardener (Maali) has also been facilitated with the four-wheel vehicle (8795) to perform his official duties. Contrary to his official post, he has been given the responsibilities of an officer.

Another relative of the DG, Nasir, who is also a Grade-1 employee of the department, has been bestowed with a four-wheel vehicle. Both these relatives of the DG Parks are regular employees of the department.

Karachi Zoo & new guests.

Aquarium and reptile house in the Karachi zoological garden has been reopened last week after three years. More than 30 species of fishes are kept in the newly renovated aquarium while the revived reptile house has now over 40 kinds of snakes and python.

While Administrator KMC Muhammad Hussain Syed on his visit to Karachi Zoo has also revealed that more animals and birds would be brought within a month.

Director Zoo Bashir Saddozai said that after its renovation more than 200 rose saplings were planted in the famous Mughal Garden in Karachi Zoo and the fountains here were also made functional again.

New recreational development in the zoo is definitely a good effort, however the authorities must also now consider the various cases of negligence in animal care by the staff and take strict action, otherwise these newly-welcomed marines and reptile would suffer badly. Couple of months ago three loins were died just because of poor management of staff and authorities.

The authorities should appoint only that staffs who are properly trained, qualified and competent enough in animal caring. In the past there were some case of animals-theft therefore authorities must make sure that no further cases of stealing come around.       

For feedback;              parks.karachi@hotmail.com

Weekly Gardening Tips

Container Gardening

Home Gardening is in the instincts of every nature lover. However, in the way to fulfill this desire there is something very special and ideal that makes container gardening so great.
Flexibility;  Containers allow you to enjoy plants in areas where a traditional garden is awkward or impossible. Even with limited space in an urban apartment, you can grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and shrubs just about anywhere. Plants thrive on rooftops, decks, balconies and stairs.
Atmosphere; Container gardening also enables you to experiment with plants and to optimize or to control environmental conditions as well as home temperature .
Variety; Additionally, you can grow different types of plants in one cordoned container in order to allow plants to exist in symbiotic relationships. Plants help each other to survive. For example, oregano repels insects that bother broccoli and enhances the flavor of beans.
Mobility; Plants in containers can be moved easily. Whether it’s shifting your pots of gardenias from your front porch to your backdoor during the rainy or cold season or transporting them to a new home, your plants can go with you.
Pest Control; You can arrange containers so that plants can attract and repel insects or flies according to your needs. If pests infect your favorite plat, you can easily move and treat those containers with appropriate sprays without disturbing other plants.; Pots of blooming plants make the entrance or sparsely decorated balcony or deck feel warm and inviting.
Decoration; Pots of blooming plants make the entrance or sparsely decorated balcony or deck feel warm and inviting.

For Feedback:       parks.karachi@hotmail.com

Modern Walking Tracks

Scientifically-designed Walking Tracks in park are the need of time.

A jogging track should allow at least two people to run or walk hand in hand. The width should be minimum four feet. Different materials can be used for the ground. Gravel, murram, concrete slabs, flagstones, bricks and rubber are some of the materials that are used. It is important to note the cost of the materials, since some are expensive to use. Before commence of work, the ground is thoroughly prepared. The drainage should also be checked.