Kabul residents call for more recreational parks

KABUL (Pajhwok): Kabul residents want the government and the private sector to create more recreational parks in the capital after the Park-i-Shahar chief of promised to build 10 similar facilities.

Park-i-Shahar -- one of the recreational sites in Kabul -- was built three years ago. Hundreds of entertainment-starved people throng the facility every day.

Habibullah Esmati, chief of the park, told Pajhwok Afghan News the facility -- established at a cost of $2 million --contained entertainment equipment, a restaurant and a cinema.

He said a huge number of people visited the park during Eid festivals and New Year. The visitors enjoyed going around the park and using the facilities installed there, he added.

Each visitor has to pay 20 afghanis at the entry point and 50 to 100 afghanis for using the facilities. Esmati said a talented technical team was on duty to handle the equipment and ensure visitor security.

“In the current circumstances, people need recreation as all countrymen are tired of war. Such facilities should be established in every corner of the country.

“I am ready to establish tens of parks in the capital and other provinces. I have a plan that has been shared with the government,” Esmati continued. He will put in place recreational facilities at the zoo and Bagh-i-Bala, if the government agrees.

Calls for more parks

Khadija, 16, who had come with her sister to the park, said: “I’m very happy. We had a lot of fun as the park contains good recreational equipment.”

Qasim Joya, another resident of Kabul, asked the government and the private sector to establish more recreational parks and pay serous heed to the maintenance of such facilities.

Other visitors also commended Park-i-Shahar.

sa/mud