Sir: A healthy environment is a primary need for the well-being and health of individuals. Our surroundings tend to leave a distinctive mark on our psyche. The presence of parks, for example, makes the surrounding environment look beautiful, pleasant, pleasurable and healthy. In Europe, they have parks at the corner of every other street. Sadly the situation of parks in Pakistan is quite the opposite. Not only are there barely a few parks, but the existing ones are in a terrible condition — they lack maintenance, cleanliness and their purpose is completely wasted. I think a park works as lungs for a society, and the Pakistani society is on a ventilator. In addition to the environment, parks play a major part in grooming children’s athletic skills; they provide them a place to let out their excess energy. Due to the absence of parks, the children play on the roofs of houses and in streets where they are repeatedly rebuked by residents, which turns their attitude aggressive and just plain negative. Parks also provide a safety net for children. Parents aren’t afraid to leave their child with his friends in a park, but playing in the street with unfamiliar people is extremely dangerous. How much will it cost a government to work on the grooming and construction of a couple of parks? It isn’t an expensive venture and will benefit the public in the short as well as in the long run. Therefore it is a humble request to the government to pay attention to this necessity. They should move with a certain plan in mind for the construction of parks and the media should assist in such ventures by spreading awareness so that more and more people join the cause. Once this project is taken care of, I think there will be a decrease in diseases and viral infections and it will also transform our dull and negative attitudes into cheerful, colourful and optimistic ones. Ali Raza Khatana Gujrat