RAWALPINDI, March 29: The Mall will be widened to six lanes, from Qasim Market to Sowan Bridge, to facilitate commuters, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) station commander Brig Hamid Khalil said.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of spring flower show, arranged by the RCB, at the Sarwar Park here on Saturday. He said all efforts were being made to provide better recreational facilities to the residents. The show is part of these efforts, he added.

“We have planned to remodel Kutchehry Chowk,” he said, and requested the vice-chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Women University to provide some land for the purpose.

Several initiatives are being taken to increase civic amenities and improve municipal services for cantonment residents, the station commander said.

He underlined the need for the establishment of another park in the cantonment areas to provide more recreational opportunities to the residents. A suitable site will be searched for the purpose, he maintained. He hoped that the district administration would provide full cooperation in this regard.

Brig Khalil asked the people to cooperate with cantonment authorities in keeping parks and other recreational spots clean and well-maintained. “Let’s take care to make cantonment one of the most beautiful places,” he added.

The main purpose of the cantonment bifurcation, he said, was to facilitate people and provide them with better municipal services. He appreciated the efforts made by the organizers in putting up the flower show.

Speaking on the occasion, the RCB chief executive officer, Iftikhar Mir, said flowers made the environment beautiful, and, thus, had a special relation with human beings. He asked people to grow more flowers.

He said the flower show had become a regular annual event of the cantonment board and would be improved in the time to come.

People evinced keen interest in the show. Soon after its inauguration and formal opening for the public, the residents poured in great numbers to enjoy the show.

About 12 government and private organizations had put up their stalls.

These organizations included Pakistan International Airlines, CMH, TMA, Signals Mess, Fatima Jinnah Women University, M.H, KRL and the host RCB. Dozens of varieties of flowers, including roses, had been displayed on the occasion.

In the end, the station commander distributed prizes among those who had put up distinguished stall.