Many parks have been built in Karachi, among which the 130-acre Bagh Ibn Qasim in Clifton stands out for its size. Other famous parks include Amir Khusro Park, Aunty Park, Aziz Bhatti Park, Hill Park, Taleemi Bagh, Nisar Shaheed Park, Safari Park, Sir Syed Park, Clifton Beach View Park, and Jheel Park. However, Ahmed Ali Park (Kidney Hill) is unique for being the highest park in Karachi, located 219 feet above the ground. The decision to construct this park was made by the Karachi Development Authority in 1964, and a notification was issued in November 1966, under the "Falaknuma" scheme, to designate this area as a recreational zone.
In September 1969, when KMC (Karachi Metropolitan Corporation) began building a boundary wall to protect the land, the Ministry of Construction raised objections, claiming the land was under federal control. KMC sought the intervention of the President of Pakistan, and on February 3, 1982, it was ordered that Kidney Hill Park would indeed be constructed, and plots allocated for housing were canceled. A decision in February 1983 gave KMC control of 62 acres to build the park. However, no action was taken for ten years.
In 1974, the land was handed over to KMC for the construction of a unique and beautiful park, but due to various reasons, construction did not begin. Gradually, land mafias started encroaching on the area, building bungalows, and the idea of a park seemed to fade away. Construction of Kidney Hill Park finally began in September 2019, following orders from the Supreme Court. KMC removed all encroachments and began restoration. The municipal commissioner at the time, Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman, faced many challenges as houses, hotels, and cattle sheds had been built on the site, and it had become a dumping ground for factories and other waste.
In October 2019, it was decided to conduct a geographical survey of the site to fully understand the situation. This study provided information about water and sewer lines, electric poles, telephone cables, and utility services passing through Kidney Hill. The park's existing trees, highest points, and depth were also studied to aid in the park's design. After the survey, construction started by removing encroachments, which was a difficult task as many people had occupied the area for a long time. Bungalows, small factories, and hotels were demolished, and the land was leveled using heavy machinery.
Wild plants, trees, and bushes unsuitable for the park were cleared, and various plants were planted. Green and yellow plants were arranged in rows. Due to the hard soil, growing and maintaining plants was a challenging task, but with consistent effort, the plants began to grow into strong trees. Social and welfare figures also supported the park’s development by donating thousands of plants. Recently, the Fauzia Wahab Fruit Garden was established, featuring chikoo, almond, banana, and mango trees, along with sweet potato and other fruit plants. The park has been beautified with lawns, and benches have been placed for visitors.
From this park, one can view the buildings surrounding the city and get a panoramic view of Karachi. You can see Mazar-e-Quaid in one direction, while on the other side, the sea and the tallest building, Bahria Icon, are visible. To the east, landmarks such as the Civic Center, Radio Pakistan’s new building, Sui Southern Gas Company’s head office, and other buildings can be seen. The airport, Shahrah-e-Faisal, and PAF Base Masroor are also visible from here.
More than 200,000 flowering, fruit, and shade trees of over 55 species have been planted so far. The park features paved walkways and two walking trails, named "Kokan Trail" and "Dhoraji Trail" to highlight the local area. Twelve additional trails have been created, named after famous mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, fruits, forests, and deserts of Pakistan, such as Nanga Parbat, Saif-ul-Muluk, Hingol, Karakoram, Amaltas, Changa Manga, Mangroves, Rakaposhi, Jasmine, Lal Suhanra, and Sukh Chain.
This scenic spot at a high altitude, with its rocky terrain, makes plant cultivation challenging. However, the hard work of Kidney Hill’s gardeners has made it possible. Special care has been taken to plant traditional and native Karachi trees such as neem, coconut, jungle jalebi, papaya, jamun, guava, moringa, bougainvillea, and gulmohar. Existing keekar trees have been pruned into umbrella shapes, enhancing the park’s beauty. With so many trees, birds have made the park their home, and the delightful sounds of various birds can be heard in the mornings, captivating visitors. The park also features two ponds adorned with lotus flowers, adding to the serene ambiance. At night, the city’s lights create a magical view, truly highlighting Karachi as the "City of Lights."
A mosque has been built here, with its foundation laid by Sheikh-ul-Islam Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani. There is also a shrine on the land where devotees visit. During the park's design, the shrine was preserved.
On March 21, 2022, Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab laid the foundation stone for a waterfall named after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The park has also been illuminated with 24 light towers and 96 floodlights. A garden has been constructed in front of the waterfall, offering visitors a pleasant view of the cascading water. The waterfall is 200 feet long and 25 feet high, making it a striking feature of the park, which has been transformed into a lush green area in Karachi.
Recently, trees from Karachi’s Bus Rapid Transit routes have been carefully relocated to Kidney Hill, increasing the park's tree count. During a visit in August, the Chief Minister of Sindh instructed that brick roads should be built within the park instead of asphalt roads to enhance its beauty.
Few Karachi residents know where Kidney Hill Park is located. You can access it via different routes: one from Kokan Ground on Haider Ali Road, another from Rangoonwala Hall after turning left, and the third from Ghazi Salahuddin Road through CP Berar Society.
This beautiful, charming, and scenic park is waiting for your visit. Entry to the park is free, and you can even tour the park in your personal vehicle.
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