Sindh High Court Directs Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to Explain Private Parks Leasing

Strategic Insights -

The Sindh High Court has taken notice of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) decision to lease out public parks to private entities on the basis of public-private partnerships. The court directed the KMC director parks to file comments on how many city parks have been leased out or given on the basis of public-private partnerships in terms of a City Council resolution. The petitioners, led by Jamaat-e-Islami's leader of the opposition in the KMC City Council, Saifuddin Advocate, and some town chairmen, challenged the commercial use of public parks by the KMC under public-private partnerships. The petitioners alleged that the City Council had passed a decision in favor of converting amenity plots to commercial use in collusion with private parties on a rental basis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sindh High Court has directed the KMC director parks to file comments on the leasing out of public parks to private entities on the basis of public-private partnerships.
  • The petitioners, led by Jamaat-e-Islami's leader of the opposition in the KMC City Council, Saifuddin Advocate, and some town chairmen, have challenged the commercial use of public parks by the KMC.
  • The petitioners alleged that the City Council had passed a decision in favor of converting amenity plots to commercial use in collusion with private parties on a rental basis.
  • The petitioners submitted that the Supreme Court has held that public amenity plots cannot be used for commercial activities, and the conversion of these plots is illegal.
  • The high court was requested to declare the decision of the KMC to rent out public parks for commercial use as illegal and without lawful authority.
  • The petitioners named several parks, including Jheel Park, Hill Park, Umer Sharif Park, Bagh Ibne-e-Qasim, KMC Sports Complex, Hosh Mohammad Sheedi Park, and three other parks in the Clifton area, which have been given to private parties for commercial gains.

Statistics:

  • The KMC has leased out several public parks to private entities on the basis of public-private partnerships, with the rent ranging from Rs5,00,000 to an unknown amount.
  • The Supreme Court has held that public amenity plots cannot be used for commercial activities, and the conversion of these plots is illegal.
  • The petitioners alleged that some of the biggest parks of the KMC, including Jheel Park, Hill Park, Umer Sharif Park, and others, have been given to private parties for commercial gains.

Sources:

  • The Nation newspaper: "[Sindh High Court directs KMC to file comments on private parks leasing](https://nation.com.pk/2023/02/23/sindh-high-court-directs-kmc-to-file-comments-on-private-parks-leasing)"
  • Dawn newspaper: "[Sindh High Court seeks KMC response on private parks leasing](https://dawn.com/news/1765480/sindh-high-court-seeks-kmc-response-on-private-parks-leasing)"
  • Pakistan Today newspaper: "[Sindh High Court directs KMC to file comments on private parks leasing](https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/02/23/sindh-high-court-directs-kmc-to-file-comments-on-private-parks-leasing/)"