Karachi, In a significant move to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all residents, Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, has declared that four parks managed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will be equipped with special facilities tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities. This initiative, backed by the Government of Sindh, aspires to offer both educational and recreational opportunities for this crucial segment of society.
According to a news release by the Media KMC, the initiative will be realized via a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Department of Persons with Disabilities of the Government of Sindh. The signing ceremony, held at the Mayor’s office, witnessed the presence of key stakeholders including Municipal Commissioner, KMC Syed Afzal Zaidi, Secretary DEPD Taha Ahmad Farooqui, CEO Syed Muhammad Idrees, Regional Director Karachi Farman Ali, among others.
The formalization of the MoU was executed by the Director General of Parks and Horticulture from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and S. M. Idrees, CEO of C-ARTS from the Government of Sindh’s Department of Persons with Disabilities. During the event, Mayor Wahab emphasized the commitment of both the Government of Sindh and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to championing equal opportunities for all residents of Sindh. He underscored the significance of designating public spaces specifically for the differently-abled to ensure their rightful access to leisure and educational experiences.
Further elaborating on the specifics of the MoU, the Mayor revealed that KMC would allocate 5 acres from Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, Clifton, and one acre each from Saudia Park, Saudabad, Family Park in Sector 7-D/2, North Karachi, and Imran Shaheed Park, Landhi for the development of these specialized parks. While KMC retains ownership rights of these parcels of land, the responsibility for designing and executing these parks in alignment with the requirements of persons with disabilities rests with the Department of Persons with Disabilities, GOS.
The Mayor also clarified that the spaces allocated for this purpose would be strictly off-limits for any commercial pursuits. To ensure that the needs of the differently-abled community are consistently met and integrated into future urban planning, development blueprints will be shared with the Corporation. In addition, a dedicated committee, comprising representatives from the Department, Corporation, and the Centre for Autism Rehabilitation and Training, Sindh (C-ARTS), will be instituted to periodically assess the efficacy and impact of these parks designed for persons with disabilities.