Presiding over the provincial cabinet meeting, Sindh Minister stated that the cabinet had agreed to sign an agreement with an NGO to revamp the Nahr-e-Khayam nallah into a recreation sport for the public.

The space is to be used by youngsters, adult and the elderly for all sorts of recreational activities and aims to beautify the area.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, IG Police Dr.Syed Kaleem Imam, Advocate General Salman Talibuddin, Prosecutor General and others.

The nallah starts from Gizri crossing, goes through Clifton and pours into the Arabian sea eventually. It is used for storm water drainage but for the last few years is being used to dispose sewage waste and solid waste is also disposed along the banks. Encroachment had further reduced the 150ft wide area to 60 ft.

The plan will be executed by People & Nature Initiative (PANI) where a park would be constructed in the area between Nahr-e-Khayam and the service lane from Khyban-e-sadi to Khyban-e-Iqbal. The NGO is headed by architect Shahid Abdullah and will adopt the park 30 years. A separate conduit will be made for the smooth flow of sewerage that is currently passing through the Nahr.

Based on the agreement, any sort of political and commercial activity will not be allowed in the premises of the park. Tuck shops may be opened and all structures within will be 15ft or less.

Earlier in July, the project had become a “victim of NAB” as termed by local media.