ISLAMABAD: City managers have decided to gear up their efforts to convince the Punjab University to set up a landscaping and horticulture institute at CDA model nursery to offer BS-level degree programmes.

CDA board, which met here on Tuesday at the civic agency’s headquarters with Chairman CDA Mohammad Ali Randhawa in the chair, discussed the said proposed institute at CDA nursery.

“The CDA board decided that the CDA model nursery, which is being transformed into Gardenia Hub, by the CDA after reviewing the technical aspects and affiliation matters with the University of Punjab to establish a landscaping and horticulture institute,” says an official statement.

It said that the board had decided that CDA would gather further information regarding affiliation with the relevant department of the University of Punjab, Lahore, while fulfilling all legal requirements to establish a horticulture and landscaping Institute at the CDA Model Nursery. This institute will offer BS-level degree programs as well as one-year diploma programmes.

Islamabad-Dhaka to be sister cities

The CDA chairman said that this project would not only enhance the beauty of Islamabad’s green cover but also create new employment opportunities for youth by training them in modern horticulture and landscaping fields.

He said that this initiative by the CDA would promote environmental conservation and sustainable development principles while beautifying the city.

He stated that the proposed institute would be an excellent research centre and would also provide the CDA, as well as other departments, with highly skilled horticulture and landscaping experts. It is relevant to note here that CDA, through a mega project, has been converting what it claimed “Gardenia Hub” and work is near completion. In addition to this, a portion of the nursery has also been developed by experts from Baku from their own funding.

Meanwhile, the statement said that CDA board also decided to regularise 22 temporary employees of the CDA, keeping in view the directions of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) and the Islamabad High Court, subject to the final decision on the appeal in the Supreme Court.

Separately, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan, called on the chairman of CDA at CDA Headquarters.

The meeting discussed various matters of mutual interest, including measures related to the beautification and development of Islamabad.

The statement said that the High Commissioner of Bangladesh appreciated the excellent efforts of CDA for the beautification and development of Islamabad and proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a sister-city relationship between Islamabad and Dhaka to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The CDA chief welcomed this move while the High Commissioner assured him of their full support regarding the MoU for the sister-city relationship between Islamabad and Dhaka. Chairman CDA said that Pakistan holds its fraternal country, Bangladesh, in high esteem and respect. He emphasised the need to explore further areas of mutual cooperation.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025