KARACHI: Driving down a road lined with plant nurseries feels like moving along a path strewn with flowers, especially during this time of the year when Karachi is enjoying winter as well as spring seasons both at the same time.

You’ll find bushes with red, orange, yellow and white roses with bright yellow, orange and off-white marigolds in bloom and spring seasonal flowers such as petunia, latania and chrysanthemum seedlings ready for transplanting.

“Roadside plant nurseries contribute towards beautifying the city,” says Mohammad Akhtar, the owner of Al Makkah nursery on University Road.

In Karachi there are nurseries along University Road, Shaheed-i-Millat Road, Korangi Road and the industrial area, Clifton (near Neher-i-Khayam) and a few other areas in Defence Housing Authority. Karsaz Road, too, used to be lined with nurseries until 2011 when they were sent packing because of security concerns after the Mehran Base terrorist attack. The idea for roadside nurseries came from the city government some 14 to 15 years ago when union committees, cantonment boards and the DHA all thought it a good step to bring a breath of fresh air to Karachi in an attempt to make this otherwise concrete jungle clean and green. Thus permissions were given for giving away land for the purpose on a temporary basis against reasonable security deposits.

“The basic concept about such nurseries is having a road that’s broad enough to include a greenbelt. Earlier, my nursery was located in front of the Safari Park. But when the authorities wanted to broaden that road further, they told me to find another place for my business. That’s when I moved here to University Road,” says Akhtar.

“It is not easy to move an entire plant nursery, even if it is to a nearby spot. First of all the plants need to be handled with care. Then you need a place where you have access to water for the plants. You also need access to power supply to make the water pumps work. Right now we have a hook connection, but it is legalised as I pay Rs3,000 a month in electricity bills.”

At Shadab Nursery, near Neher-i-Khayam, and the row of nurseries on the street next to it, water appears to be no problem. “We pump out and use nullah water for watering, of course,” says Arsalan Ahmed. “Nullah water is good for the plants, see how lush they are,” he gestures towards the plants and shrubs in the sun and the shade-loving indoor varieties under the green mesh tarpaulins.

Another nursery on Shaheed-i-Millat Road also sells pretty lawn furniture, lights and pots for plants priced from Rs2,500 to Rs10,000. There are turtles, birds including brilliant white ducks and geese with bright red beaks. An artisan in one corner is busy mixing cement and sand with a shovel. Yes, the furniture, lights and pots are made of cement with an iron frames inside for adding strength. The problem here is that due to the moisture absorbed by these the iron rods inside rust and expand. When that happens, the cement ducks and geese crack and break. The once graceful lawn ornaments look rather hideous with broken beaks and cracked necks. “That’s when you throw them away and buy new ones,” suggests Ahmed Ali, a nursery owner on Shaheed-i-Millat Road, who also deals in lawn ornaments.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2015