Horticulture agencies planned across Punjab

Move aims to expand green spaces and improve urban landscapes in all 41 districts

RAWALPINDI:

The provincial government has approved the establishment of horticulture agencies in all 41 districts of Punjab.

Previously, Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) were operating in only five major cities of the province.

In the first phase, a notification was issued for establishing a horticulture agency in Narowal district. A separate notification was also issued for the formation of the Board of Governors of the Narowal Horticulture Agency, which will comprise nine members.

In the second phase, the scope of the Punjab Horticulture Authority Act 2025 has been extended to another 20 districts.

These include three districts of Rawalpindi Division - Chakwal, Attock and Talagang. Other districts include Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Rajanpur, Kasur, Pakpattan, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Lodhran, Vehari, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Kot Addu, Taunsa and Wazirabad.

Notifications for the Boards of Governors of all newly established horticulture agencies have also been issued.

According to Secretary Housing Noorul Amin Mengal, the new agencies will be made operational soon in accordance with the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The secretary has directed the Director General of the Parks and Horticulture Authority to prepare district-wise resource plans for the new agencies.

Soon after they become operational, tree plantation campaigns will be launched in all the newly covered districts.

Residents across the province will benefit from green and clean public spaces. Tree plantation and green spaces are effective means of reducing smog and pollution.

All these PHAs will be established at district headquarters and assigned the task of beautifying their respective cities.

They will work to improve the appearance of major markets, commercial centres, roads and intersections in their respective cities.