RAWALPINDI: The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) has launched a beautification drive to give a new look to the main squares and roads in the area.

In the first phase, it improved a market on the old Airport Road and established a cricket arena and a football ground for children along Leh Nullah besides planting flowers around the main square. Jhanda Chichi market on the old Airport Road was given a new look and all buildings on the road were whitewashed.

When contacted, Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) Executive Officer Amir Rasheed said CCB started the beautification drive on main roads.

In the first phase, he added, work completed on the old Airport Road from Ammar Chowk to Kutchery Chowk. The second phase will be started from Lalkurti.

Work completed on old Airport Road from Ammar Chowk to Kutchery Chowk

He said it was part of beautification drive to utlise all vacant areas for recreational activities. He said Military Lands and Cantonments Director General Maj Gen Irfan Ahmed Malik had directed for making the old Airport Road into a model road and work in that regard had been started.

He said that all buildings on the main road were whitewashed on one theme to remove eyesores from the main artery. He said signboards of shops and commercial plazas on the main road were also being streamlined.

He said that traders on the main roads had been asked to make signboards of their shops on the pattern of the CCB so it would not become eyesores.

He said flowers as well as plants would be planted at the entrance of the city areas.

Lights would be installed at main squares to give them an attractive effect during evening and night.

He said lights would also be used in underpass of Ammar Chowk and under the open spaces along Leh Nullah.

“In the second phase, we will start improvement of Lalkurti which had been ignored in the past. All the greenbelts along the main roads would also be improved,” he said.

He said CCB had started a survey of the cantonment area so it would be made green through installation of flowerpots and trees. He said the CCB would get benefit from the tree plantation drive, adding a target had been set for officials to make the cantonment neat and green.

He said the Punjab government had allocated Rs20 million for improving the condition of cantonment areas and asked the authorities to make arrangements for tree plantation. The Mall from TM Chowk to Kutchery Chowk would be given a new look soon as the CCB has started work on plantation of flowers.

Additionally, he said there were plans to transform Adiala Road and other roads attractive and model roads.

The CCB has developed a vast nursery where gardeners cultivated various fruits, shade trees and floral plants.

This is helping the CCB plant saplings in various parts of the cantonment.

He said that efforts were also being made to improve civic facilities like water supply, drains and construction of streets.

“People will see the new look of cantonment in coming days. We requested the cantonment residents to pay their property taxes timely so the funds will be utilised for improving services without wasting time,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2025