Once popular as city of over 30 gardens spread over hundreds of acres and having varieties of flowers, Peshawar has now only three historic public parks namely Shahi Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Jinnah Park.

The number of visitors has come down to a few hundred per day compared to thousands a few years ago owing to lack of basic facilities at the parks including drinking water, washrooms, benches, cafeteria and space for prayers.

The historic Shah Bagh in Faqirabad area, spread over 100 acres, had been built in Mughal-era. It is one of the Peshawar’s oldest gardens. It had been a hub for political meetings, literary gatherings and other social activities in the city.

Rich or poor, literate or illiterate, people would go there to enjoy the serene beauty. Students would come in large number and study for hours under the trees away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The trees there stood tall and the grass was lush green with many beautiful fountains all around. This garden used to be the most popular picnic resort, playground and study centre for the people of Peshawar. It was in everyone’s use. The rich and poor of Peshawar would come together and relax there.

“I used to come here for study when I was a college student. It was then spread over large area but now it has been reduced to a few hundred kanals,” said senior resident of Peshawar Syed Zaeem Shah, 75, while sitting on a broken bench at Shalimar Bagh.

He said that the garden had six gates. “Families, friends and students would visit this garden and spend time in its serene environment. Peshawar is no longer the city of flowers. Dust, encroachments and garbage have defaced it. Good for ghosts as its dwellers have long lost the civic sense,” grumbled Mr Shah.

The garden is a national heritage site and public property according to the government. Legally, there can be no other construction in this garden.

Over the years, due to wear and tear and neglect by various governments, the condition of Shahi Bagh has deteriorated.

In August 2009, the then provincial government of ANP launched the beautification and renovation of Shahi Bagh with the financial support of USAID, which provided $15 million for the project. The project was formally inaugurated by then senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour.

A ticket collector at the gate of Shahi Bagh said that all the waterfalls and fountains had been out of order and water coolers and six washrooms inside the garden had been locked. He said that benches had been broken and no recreational things were there for families and children so the number of visitors reduced to a dismal.

He said that bidders did not turn for auction of Shalimar Bagh and Jinnah Park because there were no facilities for visitors including drinking water, washrooms, cafeteria and swimming pool. He said that recently 40 lights had been installed in the garden. A mosque having a space for 500 to 800 people was intact in the garden but the facilities required to be restored to encourage the bidders, he added.

“Only Rs 5,000 to Rs6,000 is collected per month through tickets, Rs10 per visitor. It means it goes in huge loss as it cannot meet the enormous expenses of around 45 staffers, whose salaries range from Rs22,000, to Rs40,000,” an official at Shalimar Bagh told this scribe, requesting anonymity.

The number of visitors is next to nil as public parks in the city lack basic facilities

Zeeshan Bakht, a university student, said that Peshawar was fast becoming a suffocating place because no decent spot was left there for relaxing.

He said that old Shalimar Bagh and Jinnah Park should be auctioned to generate money at least for maintenance.

“How can one expect to generate money if there are no basic facilities for people,” he questioned.

Only ‘Shahi Bagh fun land’ was auctioned in June 2018 at over Rs 10 million. Syed Qasim Bacha, manager of Shahi Bagh fun land, told this scribe that all the swings, mini-train and swimming pool were dysfunctional and contractor Haji Shah Nawaz Khan spent Rs150,000 to repair and reactivate all the items.

He said that the fun land remained dysfunctional for more than a year before it had been auctioned. He said that there were six washrooms that were demolished.

Mr Bacha said that the fund land had no drinking water facility and no space for prayers “Families avoid to visit the park because it doesn’t have the basic facilities -- drinking water, washrooms and space for prayers. Also we need lights in the park. I have moved an application to the Town- I administration to provide the required facilities to us,” he added.

The condition of the famous Jinnah Park is the worst as its front boundary wall has been demolished for Bus Rapid Transit project and gives a deserted look because no visitor shows up there.

A ticket collector at the park said that despite flouting advertisements in media for award of contract, bidders didn’t turn up in June 2018.

He said that the historic park lacked drinking water, washrooms and entertainment facilities.

“The authorities concerned don’t given any attention to this park. The visitors have almost stopped to come here and it is a great loss to government exchequer,” he added.

Rehman Khattak, the town officer (regulation) of Town-I, when approached, said that a comprehensive plan was underway to provide all the missing facilities to people at all the public parks.

He said as per the court orders, no construction was allowed inside the parks.

“Around seven public parks come under the control of Town-I and every possible effort is being made to facilitate the visitors. The old Shahi Bagh is the place where Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had delivered his public speech. An awareness campaign will be launched to sensitise the visitors about the use of public parks,” said Mr Khattak.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2019