Flowers and birds bring smiles at arid varsity

Festival aimed at promoting a rich and healthy environment for residents of twin cities.

RAWALPINDI:

The three-day Autumn Festival and Flower Show kicked off at Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (AAU) on Wednesday, with a good number of school and college students visiting.

The festival included a colourful variety of autumn flowers, such as chrysanthemums and marigolds, exotic birds, fish, and food.

More than 100 varieties of chrysanthemum were on display.

The aim of the festival, organised by the university’s horticulture department, was to promote a rich and healthy environment for the residents of twin cities, said AAU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Azeem Malik.

Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Chairman Dr Manzoor Hussain inaugurated the festival and said that lush green gardens and flower-filled lawns not only add to beauty of the environment, but also have a positive impact on the mood of the residents.

Dr Malik said Pakistan had a very fertile land which is suitable for producing plants and flowers but little attention has been paid to this sector.

He also appreciated the organisers for arranging a wonderful event.

Flower arrangements and cut flowers caught the attention of the visitors soon after the start of the show, in which over 40 participants showed their green thumbs.

Hidayat Ali, an MBA student, said he and his friends were enjoying the flower and the fancy bird show. “It is a healthy activity and my friends and I were impressed to see the hundred shades of chrysanthemum.”

Similarly, the fancy bird and fish show also got the attention of a large number of visitors, including families and children, who came to watch more than 150 species of fancy birds.

Zaha Bano, a former AAU student, said though she had graduated, she still wanted to be at the festival. “The thing I like most is the bird show,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2012.