ISLAMABAD: In a bid to highlight the Kashmir cause through art and beautification, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to install two boats filled with flowers on Srinagar Highway and Kashmir Chowk.

The boats are being painted to resemble those floats in Dal Lake of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. These boats were once used in Rawal Dam Lake, but were parked following a ban.

Recently, officers of the CDA’s environment wing rediscovered these neglected boats and chose to repurpose them for beautification. Currently, two teams—one from Azerbaijan and one from the CDA—are working on various road beautification projects in the capital city.

The Baku team, funded independently, is landscaping roads to give them a look akin to Baku’s streets, following a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Simultaneously, the CDA’s environment wing is preparing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads meeting scheduled for October 15-16. Their efforts include installing models made from recycled materials and utilising items salvaged from the Directorate of Municipal Administration’s junkyards.

Director General Environment Nazia Abrar Khan noted that during the inspection of the DMA’s junkyard, her team found and repurposed various discarded items, including peacock and crane frames, butterflies, and statues, for beautification.

Meanwhile, the Jinnah Convention Centre is also undergoing a facelift in preparation for the SCO meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024