Agreement between Sindh govt, Bahria Town over park ‘illegal’: Mayor Karachi

KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar said that the agreement between the Sindh government and Bahria Town over the control of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim is ‘illegal’, adding that the provincial government cannot simply hand over the city’s assets.

Mayor Karachi was speaking to Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada in tv show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

The mayor said that he did not object to Bahria Town taking responsibility for overhaul and betterment of the park.

He said that his party’s sole concern is the method implied in the agreement. Akhtar said that only the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is to decide what to do with the property and how to manage the earnings.

Akhtar said that the land is the property of the KMC and it can itself hand it over to any other authority, adding that the mayor is the land’s custodian.

The Mayor Karachi lamented the role of the KMC, which has been significantly reduced in the whole affair.

Waseem Akhtar also expressed doubts about the clause present in the agreement concerning ‘limited entertainment’ (such as kiosks etc) and its implementation.

He said that the income from those small scale commercial activities should go to the KMC.

In response, local bodies minister Jam Shoro said that the issue isn’t new and has been going on since past six to seven months. “If someone is doing a positive thing then it should not be critcised,” he said.

Earlier today, while talking to Geo News Chairperson of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz said that they will not take control of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim until all the stakeholders are on board. 

Riaz added he will make sure the park is not used for commercial purposes, once it is under his control. "No entry fees will be charged."