NAROWAL: Residents of Sialkot are facing difficulties due to the dilapidated condition of the Ram Talai Park in the centre of the city being used as a garbage dump for many years.

Residents claim the park, located a few hundred metres away from the Allama Iqbal Chowk in the centre of Sialkot city, has turned into a garbage heap due to the negligence of the administration.

It is also located next to the Government Qaumi High School where hundreds of students are studying and they are unable to use the park for recreational activities.

The Sialkot Municipal Corporation (MC) had installed swings in the park five years ago and a cricket pitch was also built there. Local women also came to the park, however, due to the alleged negligence of the MC, the swings broke down some two years ago, while the garbage also keeps young people away from the park.

Local resident Junaid Aftab told Dawn that the park was located in a densely populated area and due to the administration’s negligence, no one was able to use it for healthy activities.

Another resident said that during the rainy season, two to three feet of water accumulated in the area for several hours.

Sialkot Waste Management Company (SWMC) Chief Executive Officer Salman Ahmed Lone said that devspite repeated warnings, locals throw garbage in the park and a cleaning operation was ongoing. While, Sialkot MC Administrator Muhammad Naeem Bashir said that they were entering into an agreement with an NGO for the beautification and permanent restoration of the Ram Talai Park. It would soon be converted into a modern park, he added.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali was contacted for a comment but no response was received till the filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2026