RAWALPINDI: Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will start a beautification drive to improve Murree Road before Eidul Azha to make the city neat and green.

PHA Director General Ahmad Hassan Ranjha told Dawn that the beautification drive of PHA would utilise all the vacant areas for recreational activities and we will start work from Liaquat Bagh Square.

He said that Commissioner Rawalpindi Amir Khattak directed to make Murree Road into a model road and we have started the work in this regard.

He said that all the eye sores from the main artery of the garrison city would be removed.

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation had been asked to cooperate with PHA to streamline the signboards of the shops and commercial plazas on Murree Road from Marrir Chowk to Faizabad, he added.

Mr Ranjha said in the coming days, the beautification drive would be formally launched and in this regard, the civic body has started a survey to identify areas to be refurbished.

He said that the traders on the main roads had been asked to make the signboards of their shops on the pattern of the PHA so that they do not become eye sores.

He said that the PHA has developed a nursery at Gorakhpur and it will not require purchasing plants from the market.

He said that PHA has restarted the work on two parks in the city while flower beds were made in all the parks.

He said, “We have made a plan to improve the green belts on the metro section from Marrir Chowk to Faizabad and also to pay attention to Raja Bazaar,” he said.

“Some work on the beautification drive has already been launched. The agency is planning to improve the condition of the walls on Committee Chowk Underpass while planting more trees on the main roads,” he said.

To a question, he replied that he visited Raja Bazaar and other areas and gardeners had been asked to look after the trees planted on the roads. Moreover, he assured that the agency would also chalk out a plan to improve the historical bazaars in the next phase.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2025