First-of-its-kind institute to cultivate aspiring green thumbs

LAHORE: Long known for its beautifully manicured gardens, Lahore is about to contribute further to horticulture by opening the country’s first institute to hone the skills of aspiring green thumbs and those with an eye for landscaping.

According to officials, the Quaid-e-Azam Institute of Horticulture and Landscaping at Bagh-e-Jinnah will open its doors in September

PHA Director General Mian Shakeel Ahmad tells The Express Tribune that the authority had already invited expressions of interest (EOIs) to design the training facility. Initially, the authority demanded Rs80 million from the government for the first year, mainly for capital expenditure, he added.

A committee of veteran agriculture and horticulture professionals from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Punjab Agriculture Department is working on the curriculum for different programmes to be taught at the institute.



Shakeel says the institute will be established at the official residence of Bagh-e-Jinnah’s project director. “The house is spread over three to four acres and has ample green spaces which will be used by trainees before their work is presented to examiners,” he elaborates.



The developed world has made great advancements in this field, he says, adding there are specialised institutes providing students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers in the horticulture and landscaping sector. “These institutes build a foundation for sector-focused knowledge and skills required in modern day horticulture.”

According to the DG, PHA is working on enhancing the skills of the domestic workforce by providing them with quality training. “Once the institute is established, various diploma and certificate programmes will be started for various categories of professionals and workers,” he reveals.

Currently, the UAF has an Institute of Horticulture that offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in relevant disciplines.

This institute mainly offers programmes for specialised and higher education and research, but there is no facility in the country that provides training to semi-skilled or unskilled workers associated with horticulture.



Last year, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved setting up the horticulture and landscaping institute. At the time, he directed officials to raise standards at botanical gardens. Besides maintaining cleanliness, due attention should also be paid to the beatification of cities, he said. The CM added there is a need for regular monitoring of measures to promote horticulture and landscaping.

According to the CM, the Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme to promote horticulture as there is a need to take proper care of plants and flowers, apart from creating awareness among the masses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.