KARACHI, Jan 23: Bagh Ibne Qasim, the country’s largest and most beautiful park according to city horticulture officials, is almost complete. The authorities are waiting as to when the president will be available to formally open it for the public.

“Work on this huge project is almost complete. We have developed lawns, paths and other accessories along both wings of Kothari Parade and are busy applying finishing touches,” Director Parks City District Government Karachi, Liaquat Ali Khan, told Dawn. He said the finishing was a matter of a few days and the sprawling park would soon be buzz with the laughter of children and families. “This project became a reality due to the interest of President Musharraf and Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan and we requested the president to inaugurate it,” Mr Khan said.

Work began on July 22, 2005. “The whole development is the outcome of round-the-clock labour and a great achievement. The garden’s exclusivity is that it is along the Arabian Sea, which no other park possesses,” said Mr Khan, who is proud to have designed it. “This is the greatest project of my life and I think I have done what I was sent to this world,” he said.

A visit gives a feeling of enormity. From the path to the dome of the Kothari Parade is a green sight as far as one can see. In between is the grace of the 86-year-old parade made of Jodhpur sandstone called Chhatar. This scribe has seen many a beautiful sight but the whole scene, especially at night is awesome.

The CDGK has spent Rs500 million on the 130-acre garden and completed 99 percent of the work. Before the launching of the project, around 74 acres was encroached, which was vacated with the interest of Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad. He said the Hindu temple located in what is now the park’s midst, has been renovated in line with the overall design of the park and Hindu worshippers can enter the premises free-of-charge when it opens to the public.

We have used Lasbella stone for renovation of the Parade and construction of additional lawns, paths and walkways of the project. It may be slightly inferior in quality, but similar to Jodhpur sandstone. The original plaques mounted 86 years ago have been retained.

Ten thousand eight hundred trees have been transplanted in the garden. Over 3,000 stone benches and twenty canopies put in place. There are 1,500 dustbins to keep the lawns clean of litter. One hopes visitors to the park do use them and keep this garden clean.

To keep the premises lively at night, 30 lighting towers – each tower 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.

Two complexes – one each on the left and right wings – are in the process of completion which would house 72 washrooms. The designers have plans to expand this facility. There is ample area left on the two wings of garden and along the beach for car parking. A proposal is also under consideration to reserve at least two days a week for families.

According to Mr Khan, with construction of this huge garden, the historic architectural monuments at Clifton gifted by late Sir Jehangir Kothari to the city in the early part of the last century, is finally protected. These monuments were earlier reducing to rubble owing to civic agencies negligence and carelessness of citizens. The cluster of monuments comprises Jehangir Kothari Parade, Lady Lloyd Pier, Jehangir Kothari Pavilion, his bungalow and a bandstand. “We have renovated and protected this beautiful spot once and for all,” said Mr Khan.

Placed parallel to the sea, the Jehangir Kothari Parade consists of a single storey pavilion located at the left end of the pier and the walkway. The elegant rectangular open pavilion has the five-arched facade facing the sea on one side and the road on the other.

The walkway is defined by carved balustrade using the Jodhpur sandstone coping and extends on either side of the pier to a total length of over 600 feet. While the Jehangir Kothari Pavilion is totally constructed by the pink Jodhpur sandstone, a combination of pink Jodhpur sandstone and buff coloured Gizri sandstone, is used with good effect in the Parade, Pavilion and the walkway. Steps from the promenade lead down to an enormous park renamed Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim (originally known as Rupchand Bilaram Park).

Another important part of the historic monuments is a pier, Lady Lloyd Pier, named after Lady Lloyd, wife of the then Bombay Governor Sir George Ambrose Lloyd. The pier is designed at right angle to the parade walkway and extends over 1,200 feet towards the sea.

The most important of the monuments at Clifton is the bandstand with its striking cupola of Pink Jodhpur stone, Chhatar, is located at the western end of the cluster of the monuments. Four corners of the podium are defined by tall pillars topped by carved motifs, while carved balustrade and podium walls of Gizri sandstone complete the ensemble.