Karachi to get multiple parks for differently-abled citizens

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has announced plans to establish four parks for differently-abled citizens across the city.

The decision was announced by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter.

During a meeting held at the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) office, Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, expressed the KMC’s commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.

These parks, funded by the Sindh government and the Centre for Autism Rehabilitation Training (CARTS), aim to provide recreational havens exclusively tailored to the needs of people with disabilities.

KMC with the support of #SindhGovt & CARTS will develop 4 parks in different areas of Karachi for our differently abled people. This important decision was made today & work will soon start on this pic.twitter.com/ICDEJmTVa8

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) September 7, 2023

The proposed parks’ ownership will be transferred to the DEPD, ensuring their transformation into fully accessible spaces.

High-ranking officials, including the Secretary of DEPD, Municipal Commissioner of KMC, Syed Afzal Zaidi, and the Director General of Parks, KMC, were present at the meeting.

The secretary DEPD passionately appealed to the mayor for dedicated recreational areas within KMC parks, emphasizing the urgent need for facilities catering to the unique requirements of Karachi’s disabled community.

In response, financial allocations have been earmarked in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the renovation of four parks in the current fiscal year. These parks include Malir Saudia Park, Landhi Imran Shaheed Park, Family Park North Karachi, and Kashmir Road Park, with the latter set to become a pioneering model for inclusivity.

Mayor Wahab directed the Director General of Parks to collaborate closely with the Secretary DEPD on site visits to KMC parks, marking a significant step toward achieving a more inclusive Karachi for all of its residents.