RAWALPINDI: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has started renovation and beautification of parks besides improving greenbelts along roads in the garrison city and Murree.

Moreover, two parks in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed will be rehabilitated by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations.

“We started work on beautification of all parks from own sources in the garrison city; however, two parks in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed will be improved by the UN funding, as both are in a bad shape,” PHA Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha told Dawn.

He said under the project of the IOM, the PHA identified the two parks - Gulab Park and Jinnah Park - for rehabilitation.

“As IOM works to facilitate migrants, we informed it about the Afghan population in the area who frequently visit these parks and the UN organisation verified it through its sources and agreed to rehabilitate the parks,” he said.

Apart from this, the PHA launched a campaign to ensure renovation and beautification in all public parks. He said due to the extreme hot weather in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a large number of citizens visited public parks in the evening. He said the PHA was using all available resources to provide quality recreational facilities to the public.

The official said lighting and seating arrangements were being improved and decoration of plants and flowers was being carried out in the parks. Special arrangements have also been made for cleanliness in the parks.

About Murree, Mr Ranjha said the PHA had made a comprehensive plan for the beautification of the resort town. Two main parks of Murree - Bagh-i-Shaheedan and PIA Park - will be renovated, he added.

“We plan to plant flowers on roads from Jheeka Gali to Kashmir Point and visitors will see the difference in the area in the coming days,” he said.

“We already have installed LED lights on different roads in Murree to improve the ambience in the night and evening.” Plantation of new plants will give a new look to the area to attract more tourists, he added.

Mr Ranjha expressed his determination that this year the target of the plantation drive will be ensured by utilising the monsoon months. He also appealed to the citizens to make the plantation campaign in the city and its surroundings a success.

He said saplings would be distributed among the public in connection with the plantation drive organised by the PHA, so that the target of planting one million saplings can be achieved in Rawalpindi in this season.

He said that a large number of citizens visited public parks in Rawalpindi with their families, adding the cleaning and beautification measures by the PHA were applauded by the visitors.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2024