KABUL (PAN): Youth in the Afghan capital have complained about the lack of public parks in Kabul. 

More than four million people live in Kabul, but there are only about seven parks and all but one was built decades ago.

Gul Rhim, 22, sitting in Zarnigar Park, said there were not enough parks to cater for everyone. He said Zarnigar was not even a proper park where you could play games, as most of the ground was hard cement and covered with dust. He said the park should have more grass and recreational opportunities.

Jamshid, 23, who is a resident of Shahr-i-Naw, said the parks were only that in name. Shahr-i-Naw park was full of mud and dust. He said people went there as there was nowhere else to go.

Instead, many youth head out of the city to places such as Qargha Dam, Paghman district, Bostan Band and Sayad in Kapisa province. Many others were also going to the newly-constructed Bibi Mehro Park.

The park is spread over 30 hectares and is full of grassy areas, flowers and places for sitting with water fountains, swings and other recreational facilities.

Most of those seen in the park are youth.

Matiullah, who lives in the Bibi Mehro area, said he often studied in the park. He said many students could be seen in the park. The municipality should construct more parks like Bibi Mehro, he said.  

Haji Ghulam Ali, a senior official at the Kabul municipality, admitted there were too few parks in Kabul and that many of them were not in a good condition.

Part of the problem, he said, was that influential men had occupied government land and getting them to move was proving difficult.

dk/cas