Karachi: Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has sealed famous Sindbad recreational area. The facility was sealed on the orders of Commissioner of Karachi. Citizens on the visit to the recreational area were stopped from going inside.
According to KDA, the administration had built the recreational facility on reserved land and was being used for commercial purposes.
The plot was taken on a 10 year lease the duration of which had expired. According to the KDA sources the plot was seized on the basis of ongoing crackdown against unlawful land seizing mafia.
Wonder Land contracted the KDA that it will provide free-of-cost recreational facilities to the masses. But, the amusement park started committing multiple violations of the contract, according to KDA.
Instead of four acres, eight acres of land were occupied, the sources said adding the park was renamed from Wonder Land to Sindbad in 1990.
After renaming, the park put in place large swing rides in 1990. Furthermore, the park began to charge ten rupee against each entry into the pleasure ground in violation of the contract.
The citizens were charged exorbitantly for using rides that amounts to a daily income worth Rs.500,000, according to senior KDA director AK Jameel Baloch.
According to KDA official, at least ten billion rupee were accrued from the commercial use of this land over a span of ten years.
After assuming his portfolio, Minister for Local Bodies Sindh, Nasir Hussain Shah demanded record of welfare plots from the commissioner Karachi.
The initial eye opening report revealed that Sindbad was set up on a plot meant for welfare purposes and pots of money are being stashed without a penny to the KDA.