RAWALPINDI: Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has completed renovation work of greenbelts on Liaquat Bagh Road under its ongoing drive to beautify the highways and greenbelts of Rawalpindi with flower beds.

PHA Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha said that the renovation work of various highways, intersections and greenbelts of Rawalpindi has been completed which was not only attractive for visitors , but also enhanced the beauty of the city.

Besides the renovation of various highways, intersections and greenbelts of the city, he said, main roundabouts have also been decorated with beautiful sculptures of animals, which are adding to the beauty of these highways and intersections.

For the winter season, he said the city’s parks and greenbelts have been decorated and adorned with beautiful daisies, while many bridges and underpasses in the city have also been decorated with beautiful landscapes, making Rawalpindi’s parks, highways, and intersections give a very attractive look with beautiful lighting during the day and night.

He said in the coming days, the beautification drive will be launched in downtown areas and in this regard, the civic body had started the survey to identify different parks and walls to be refurbished.

He said the traders on the main roads had been asked to make the signboards of their shops on the pattern of the PHA so it could not become eye sores. He said that the nursery of the PHA would be activated soon so that the PHA does not purchase the plants from the market but also provide trees and plants to the residents from its own nursery.

He said that PHA had made a plan to improve the greenbelts on metro section from Marrir Chowk to Faizabad and also pay attention to Raja Bazaar,” he said.

He said that trees and flowers would be grown on medians in Raja Bazaar and other parts of the inner city.

“The PHA wanted to end the eye sores from the city areas so the visitors will feel difference in coming days,” he said.

He said that seasonal flower beds had also been constructed and planted trees along the main roads to give green look to the city. “Some work on the beautification drive had already been launched and in this regard, PHA was working to improve the condition of the walls on Marrir Chowk and underpasses while planting more trees on the main roads,” he said.

He said that he visited Raja Bazaar and other areas and gardeners had been asked to look after the trees planted on the roads.

However, he assured that the agency would chalk out plan to improve the historical bazaars also in next phase.

He said that there were many proposals and plans for the beautification drive but shortage of funds was the main reason to speed up the work in this regard.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2025