Page 214 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

mention in the 1929 gazetteer too. It has been explained in detail in an earlier
chapter of this gazetteer too. Once known for the quality of its dates all
across the country, unfortunately no one today in the entire Muzaffargarh
seemed to know its true historical significance. Even otherwise too, the Bagh
was in extremely debilitated condition. There was no system of care or
watering in place. The trees had become old and aging, and lacked in fruit.
There were shrubs and bushes all over the place. People had made pathways
crisscrossing the entire garden, at least one of which was a pacca road.
Nomads had made their dwellings, i.e. jhuggis, at some places. The
neighbouring sabzi mandi had also been encroaching upon the adjoining
areas of the Bagh primarily for parking and dumping purposes. The nearby
settlement, i.e. basti, was also extending its boundaries into the Bagh.

In view of the historical significance of the Bagh, a comprehensive
renovation/rehabilitation plan was devised and launched by the District
Administration. The area of the Bagh was clearly demarcated with the help
of revenue staff; the nomadic and other settlements were removed, and in
order to secure it from encroachments for all times to come, construction of
a boundary wall was started. A room for watchmen/chowkidars was also to
be constructed. Similarly, water source, i.e. tube well as well as water
channels, would also be built. Lighting and other arrangements would be
made too. Not only this but an understanding with the Wildlife Department
was arrived at – whose team visited the venue twice – by virtue of which
herbivores and other compatible animals, such as deer, antelopes, blue bulls
(nil gai), peacocks etc., would be provided once the construction phase was
over. The ultimate objective was to convert the Bagh into a small wildlife park
where uncaged animals would be kept in their natural habitat for the
education and recreation of people of Muzaffargarh as well as the
neighbouring districts.

RECONSTRUCTION OF KASHMIR ROAD
The project of dualisation of the main road which enters Muzaffargarh from
Multan side and reaches up to the katchehri chowk had been initiated at a
cost of Rs. 258 million in 2015 but had later become unfunded/abandoned.
As a result, such an important road in the midst of the city was in extremely
debilitated condition, with lots of potholes, and gave a very bad impression
of the city to the visitors. Unfortunately, the cost had now risen to over Rs.
400 million making it even more difficult to redeem the project. Anyways, the
matter was taken afresh with the Communication and Works (C&W)
Department, and after persistent and personal follow-up at the highest level,
the revised PC-II was prepared and forwarded to the Planning and
Development Department. The Provincial Development Working Party
(PDWP) meeting was then especially attended by the officers of District
Administration, alongside those of the C&W Department, to plead the case
in person. The project was finally approved at revised cost, and was to be

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