PHA seeks to establish ‘grand nursery’

Submits proposal to build project on WAPDA’s land to Punjab govt for approval

RAWALPINDI:

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi has submitted a project for approval to the Punjab government pertaining to establishing a grand nursery on a 1,000-kanal portion of the vast land, owned by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in the Gorakhpur area of Adiala, to get out of the financial crisis.

It should be noted that the sole financial source of the PHA, which is responsible for the maintenance and beautification of six large public parks, 44 community parks and plantation on the green belts across all the roads in the garrison city, is Rs170 million from the advertisement.

The PHA also receives annual support of Rs157 million from the Punjab government under which it gets funds of over Rs30 million for one monthly salary of its employees while the PHA has to manage two consecutive salaries for its employees on its own.

Meanwhile, a large part of the expenses incurred on the beautification and maintenance of parks, green belts on Murree Road, Saidpur Road, Double Road and other roads, including the tree plantation, is met with donations.

In order to stabilise itself financially, the PHA, which is facing acute financial difficulties, has prepared the project to establish a grand nursery on 1,000 kanals of land so that after PHA fulfils its needs from the income generated from this nursery, it could also earn a substantial amount in terms of income, by selling the plants to the private sector nurseries, established in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

PHA Director General Ahmad Hassan Ranjha says that his desire and effort is to make PHA a financially stable institution for which, the establishment of a grand nursery on 1000 kanals of land will prove to be a step that will help PHA to be a financially independent organisation.

The director general said: “Allama Iqbal Park, Liaquat Bagh Park, Rawal Road Park, Pothohar Park, Commercial Market Park and Mallia Park are six major parks where a large number of citizens go for recreational activities while cricket and other sports activities are also going on in the Rawal Road Park.”

He added that full attention was being given to the upgradation and beautification of other community parks in the city, while plantation in Rawalpindi and Murree districts is also a major task of PHA, for which the establishment of the grand nursery land will be a project of extraordinary significance.

The director general went on to say that attracting the citizens to the parks will reduce the rush of patients in hospitals since the citizens coming to the park will be able to live healthy and happy life.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2023.