Rawalpindiites face shortage of playgrounds

[Naveed Yaseen]

Noor Aftab
There is no playground in congested localities falling in the main city and youngsters are seen making failed attempts to find out any open space which can be used for sports.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ revealed that there was not a single public playground available except those under government colleges in localities stretching from F-Block to Saddar having hundreds of thousands of residents.

In Satellite Town, youngsters in the past had a few options for sports by using some open spaces, including the Holy Family Hospital area, fields designated for agriculture research in Shamsabad and the playground of the Government Satellite Town College.

“There were two open spaces in the vicinity of the Holy Family Hospital that were used as playgrounds. But after construction of new blocks, youngsters were deprived of this facility,” said Khwaja Gulistan, a resident of Satellite Town.

The Shamsabad fields are now being used for agriculture research and there is no playground available in the locality.

The piece of land where the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium now stands was used by youngsters as a playground, but now it has gone beyond their reach.

The Government Satellite Town College’s ground, which was once a permanent ‘destination’ of sportsmen, is no more available for public use.

Most youngsters living in this locality are now using a playground in Sector I-9, but they have to secure permission for it because it is supposed to be used only by residents of this sector.

Another playground, known as Sethi ground, near the Holy Family Hospital has been turned into a park and cannot be used as a playground.

“Youngsters have no facilities for sports. There is not a single place, which can be used for sports purposes,” said Mujeebur Rehman, a resident of Haideri Chowk.

He said that it was quite astonishing that the city planners had not designated any place as a playground at the time of preparation of the layout plan.

The playground in the premises of the Government Asghar Mall College has reduced considerably after construction of more blocks by its administration.

“We have to go a long distance to Muslim Town in sweltering heat to play in a ground,” said Musawar Khan, a resident of Asghar Mall.

The Muslim Stadium near ‘Kali Tanki’ is being used only for football and cricketers are not allowed to play there.

Another playground, adjacent to the stadium in the jurisdiction of the Muslim School, is in a dilapidated condition and ponds of water are often seen there in the monsoon season.

The Liaquat Bagh where children used to play cricket, tennis and badminton has been sealed after the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Employees working in government departments located near the Liaquat Bagh are often seen scolding children who play on the road leading to the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club due to absence of any playground in the locality.

With no sports facilities available in the city, how can one hope that our youngsters would utilise their energies in healthy activities.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=127501