KARACHI: City Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Sunday once again announced the removal of parking fees on public roads, stating that no street parking contract will be extended beyond June 30. He said this while inaugurating the Hanif Mohammad Cricket Ground at Jheel Park in PECHS, highlighting his administration’s dedication to restoring public areas and providing quality recreational facilities for residents. In February, the Sindh government had announced to abolish charged parking across the province. However, in March the city mayor clarified that the municipal government was going to abolish charged parking across the metropolis from July 1 as all parking contracts would be ended by June 30. “After June 30, no street parking contract will be extended. Only parking plazas within walled enclosures will be allowed to charge fees,” he said. Inaugurates Hanif Mohammad Cricket Ground at Jheel Park in PECHS About the newly opened cricket ground, named after Pakistan’s cricket legend Hanif Mohammad, he said that it is a green space developed on a former lake. It includes facilities for cricket, football and walking tracks. The mayor expressed fond memories of Hanif Mohammad, noting that his son, Shoaib Mohammad, intends to establish a cricket academy at the new ground. “This project aligns with the Pakistan Peoples Party’s vision to offer high-quality public amenities,” he said. He emphasised the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) ongoing efforts to improve the city’s parks, playgrounds and public zones, aiming to make them healthy and inclusive spaces. “Karachi’s historic buildings and public spaces are being returned to the people,” Mr Wahab declared. He mentioned that Frere Hall, Khaliq Dina Hall and soon Denso Hall would be accessible to the public. He added that renovations at Empress Market are underway, with plans to create a cultural activity zone. The mayor invited creative individuals to host events at these heritage sites and announced the rehabilitation of 50 parks citywide in 2025, with two inaugurations set for later this week in District West and District South. He suggested dedicating large parks to families on weekends and urged the media to gather public feedback on the proposal. Additionally, he disclosed the digitisation of employee records to prevent fraudulent hiring, marking a significant administrative advancement. He also outlined development plans for II Chundrigar Road, Pakistan Chowk, Burns Garden and the city’s food streets. Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2025