RAWALPINDI: Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), launching its park beautification drive has started placing birds’ nests on trees.

In this connection, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has been asked to allow PHA to place nests on top of water tanks in different areas near main parks of the city. The nests were fixed into trees in Liaquat Bagh, Allama Iqbal Park, Atta Shaheed Park and Minhas Road.

PHA Director General Zaheer Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the authority wanted to improve the condition of parks. “We did not want to just make parks green but also wanted to provide a safe haven for birds in these areas.

“PHA started work to construct nests, recycling wasted wood. We will also give these nests to schools so children can place them in their houses,” he said.

In the past, birds used to make their nests in trees but due to urban development, they are rarely seen in parks. He said the park’s management will ensure that biodiversity in their respective areas is boosted.

Apart from this, he said saplings of trees that belong to the Potohar region will be planted along green belts and parks, adding gardeners have been asked to prepare flower beds in parks and green belts. The authority will pay attention towards plants and shrubs that change colour each season.

Elaborating about future plans, Mr Jappa said he wants to introduce yoga and other training camps in parks, adding: “We will utilise the parks for educational purposes also. In the past, we just created jogging tracks.”

We will start evening classes for children employed at workshops and in houses, so they receive an education, he said, adding female educationists are ready to start such classes in parks. He said the children will also be taught Quran.

“We will also start small libraries in parks. Corner libraries will be established in Allama Iqbal Park, Potohar Park and Liaquat Bagh where children can use the library and their parents can walk in the evening or attend yoga class,” he said.

Space will also be given to talented youngsters who can give music and art lessons along with martial art classes.

Children will benefit from such activities as this will increase visitors in parks, he said.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2021