RAWALPINDI: The Punjab caretaker government “will provide Rs100 million soon” to the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for the upgradation and beautification of parks in the garrison city. This was informed on the occasion of the inauguration of Al-Aqsa Park near Holy Family Hospital in Satellite Town.

Provincial Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Health and Population Welfare Dr Jamal Nasir was the chief guest. Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, PHA Director General Ahmad Hasan Ranjha and senior officials from other departments participated in the ceremony. The PHA officials briefed the provincial minister regarding the Al-Aqsa park.

They said that the PHA had requested the government to provide funds for the upgradation and beautification of other parks, including Liaquat Bagh, Allama Iqbal Park, and Rawal Road Park. It was informed that the PHA made a “comprehensive plan to turn Murree Road into a model road” and all the pillars of the metro’s elevated road would be white-washed and green belts would be properly maintained.

The officials informed that traders on Murree Road had been asked to streamline the signboards of the shops in line with the same pattern. They said that artwork had been done along the Moti Mahal Bridge over Leh Nullah while other parts of the Murree Road would be beautified soon.

On the occasion, Dr Jamal Nasir told reporters that all possible steps were being taken to make the city beautiful. “A letter has been written to the Punjab government to renovate the city’s parks. A grant of Rs100 million will be provided soon for the upgradation of these parks,” he said.

The caretaker minister added that the parks would have a specified time for women to facilitate them. “The construction of the dilapidated roads of the city would be started from January 2,” he added. Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said a park on 45 kanal had been established in the GOR 1 area of the garrison city.

Illegal constructions

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Tuesday asked its land and building branch to take strict action against illegal and unauthorised constructions and commercial activities in the district.

RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa asked the officials to start strict action against the illegal construction. He was speaking during a meeting to review RDA’s progress. RDA Additional Director General Awais Manzoor Tarar, Director Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MPTE) Jamshed Aftab, Director Architecture Shuja Ali, Director Engineering Muhammad Kamran, and others attended the meeting.

In a bid to provide relief to people, he asked the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering branch to simplify the procedures of building plans so people could submit their plans and get approval from the branch within a month. He also directed strict action against illegal and unauthorised constructions and commercial activities without any fear or favour.

He directed the Directorate of Estate to work hard on a fast-track basis to transfer properties of the general public in the area which came under the RDA. He also directed strict action against encroachments. “When there is no physical impediment in the way of work, it should not be delayed,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2023