Karachi Park Commercialisation Sparks Public Outcry Over Green Space Loss
Karachi park commercialisation has sparked growing concern among residents and environmental groups. They say the rapid conversion of public parks into paid commercial facilities threatens the city’s limited green spaces. They also warn that this trend is worsening Karachi’s environmental decline.
Residents Raise Alarm Over Park Conversions
Civil society members and neighbourhood groups from District East, South and Central spoke at a press conference on Tuesday. They urged the Sindh government and Mayor Murtaza Wahab to stop all commercial projects inside parks. According to them, at least 13 parks in Clifton, PECHS and nearby areas now face takeover by private operators.
These parks include ST-15 Park, Umer Sharif Park, Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, Jheel Park, Hill Park and the KMC Sports Complex. Many of these spaces now host padel courts, sports arenas and other revenue-generating ventures. As a result, communities are losing open areas meant for recreation.
Environmental and Social Impact Intensifies
Environmental researcher Ahmad Shabbar said these conversions go against basic urban planning principles. He explained that parks act as the city’s lungs. However, replacing them with concrete structures increases pollution and weakens Karachi’s climate resilience.
Speakers such as architect Marvi Mazhar, journalist Madeeha Syed and environmentalist Masood Lohar highlighted the social toll. They noted that women, children and older residents depend on local parks for safe and accessible recreation. In addition, nearby residents now report late-night noise and reduced security.
Community representative Asad Ali Sheikh said authorities are leasing out public land in the name of development. However, he argued that private operators benefit while citizens lose their only green spaces.
Residents demanded that the Sindh Local Government Department cancel all commercial permissions. They also urged the Mayor to protect neighbourhood parks and prioritise public welfare over profit.
