Healthy survival of human beings depends on the quality of environment they live in. A change in physical environment brings changes in social, cultural and biological environment.
For this purpose green spaces provide a pleasant atmosphere to the citizen to escape momentarily from smoke, noise and drudgery of work.
No doubt, greenery attracts rains, absorbs the summer heat, adds Oxygen to air prevents pollution and saves soil erosion.
The importance of green areas is gaining greater acceptance day by day especially due to the rapid urbanization resulting in environmental degradation.
A few years back, the Punjab government established the department of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in some regions and now on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif this department is being enhanced and expanding to the district level that will make our cities and towns more beautiful and with healthier environment.
Naina Ashraq the public relations officer of the PHA while talking to Pakistan Observer highlighted highlight some key and very important steps taken by the current Director General of PHA and its management. First of all, she said, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has started some new projects aimed at enhancing the beauty of Rawalpindi and Murree.
The decision includes the establishment of food outlets of famous chains at major amusement parks in Murree and Rawalpindi as well as the construction of a large nursery on the government land.
Besides, the city of Rawalpindi will witness the construction of its first major nursery, which will span across 500 acres of government land in Gorakhpur, she further said.
The initiative aims to bolster the availability of plants and saplings for beautification purposes. Additionally, there are plans to transform Murree Road in Rawalpindi into an attractive and exemplary model road.
The PHA has started renovation and beautification of parks besides improving greenbelts along the roads in the garrison city and Murree, said Ms Naina adding, moreover, two parks in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed will be rehabilitated by International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations. The PHA launched a campaign to ensure renovation and beautification in all public parks. In summer due to the extreme hot weather in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a large number of citizens visit public parks in the evening, she said adding the PHA was using all available resources to provide quality recreational facilities to the public. This also includes lighting and seating arrangements which are being improved and decoration of plants and flowers being carried out in the parks. Special arrangements have also been made for cleanliness in the parks, she said.
When we talk about Murree, Naina said the PHA had made a comprehensive plan for the beautification of the hill station, for example, two main parks of Murree—Bagh-i-Shaheedan and the PIA Park—will soon be renovated.
