Hill Park
Encyclopedia
Hill Park is situated on a hilltop surrounded by a residential area known as PECHS
neighborhood of Jamshed Town
in Karachi
, Sindh
, Pakistan
. It has many amusement spots, fast food centers, restaurants, a pond and other facilities. Each day people from all parts of the city, especially families, visit this park.
The Administration of Ayub Khan approved Hill Park in the mid-1960s as there were not many recreational spots around the city during those days. Due to the location and structure of the hill in the midst of the PECHS Society, the authorities decided to built a park over there. The construction work started in 1968. And there was a small notice board, which read in Urdu: Yahan hill park baney ga - Hill park will be constructed here.
During the 1960s, before the Hill Park was developed, people from all over the city showed up, particularly students from local colleges and universities. In 1969 when the construction work completed, the park became lively and active. It turned into a picnic spot where people could spend some time to relax and enjoy the company of their friends and families. On Saturday and Sunday evenings the hill park swarmed with families. During the early days the park was also used for filming by the Television and film industry. Local businessmen also used it in the late evenings as a relaxation spot after a hectic days work. When the park first opened, there was a pond in the middle of the park with ducks swimming in it. The site was a major attraction for the children who spent time at the Hill Park during the 1960s. There was also an old movie projector that played classic Pakistani movies, for which you'd get your seats under a sea of sparkling stars. This was all during the Pre-VCR age when there was not much entertainment around the city, however this projector was closed in 1980s and its building is currently in a bad condition that shows memories of good days when people come to entertained themselves. Later with the passage of time, Meiraj Amusement Park developed in the eastern corner and Shezan Restaurant in the west. And then someone opened a fitness center and a karate school behind the Mairaj Amusement park in 1973-74.
In the early 90s, Hill Park saw the addition of one more park named "Ali Baba Theme Park", fast food centers and recently opened restaurants like the Oasis. 3 Coins is one of the most popular restaurants at the moment. Despite the fact that today’s Hill Park has changed and has become a crowded spot, this fabulous park had been built in such a manner that one could still find the same calm and peaceful atmosphere of yesterday. It is a popular place for couples to meet up discretely.
In 2006, a group of young people started meeting in hillpark every two weeks, reading excerpts, from writings, playing music, reciting poetry and most of all discussing and putting views and ideas across ina publicsetting. The group was fluid in that a different set of people attended every time, with some regular entities. Topics ranged from literature, digital arts,and politics to gender and development and art projects in the city. This was the Hillpark Group and lasted for about two years. It was a conscious city wide trend to increase cultural interaction with 'others' in public spaces. Since then other groups have spawned. The email list is still active in announcing cultural events.
PECHS
PECHS is an affluent neighborhood in Jamshed Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in PECHS including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim...
neighborhood of Jamshed Town
Jamshed Town
Jamshed Town is the largest of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan and lies in the central part of Karachi. To the northwest is Liaquatabad Town across the Lyari River, while to the east is Gulshan Town and to the southeast is Korangi Town across the Malir River. Jamshed is bordered by Karachi...
in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It has many amusement spots, fast food centers, restaurants, a pond and other facilities. Each day people from all parts of the city, especially families, visit this park.
History
In the early 90s, Hill Park saw the addition of one more park named "Ali Baba Theme Park", fast food centers and recently opened restaurants like the Oasis. 3 Coins is one of the most popular restaurants at the moment. Despite the fact that today’s Hill Park has changed and has become a crowded spot, this fabulous park had been built in such a manner that one could still find the same calm and peaceful atmosphere of yesterday. It is a popular place for couples to meet up discretely.
In 2006, a group of young people started meeting in hillpark every two weeks, reading excerpts, from writings, playing music, reciting poetry and most of all discussing and putting views and ideas across ina publicsetting. The group was fluid in that a different set of people attended every time, with some regular entities. Topics ranged from literature, digital arts,and politics to gender and development and art projects in the city. This was the Hillpark Group and lasted for about two years. It was a conscious city wide trend to increase cultural interaction with 'others' in public spaces. Since then other groups have spawned. The email list is still active in announcing cultural events.