RAWALPINDI: Highlighting different cultures of the country, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has launched a beautification campaign in the city.

The reconstruction of the old Fawara Chowk, walls of commissioner office and Benazir Bhutto Hospital, decoration of underpasses, Rawal Road and improvement of greenbelts are parts of the drive.

Though the figurative work on the walls of the commissioner office has been completed, the reconstruction of the historical Fawara Chowk and installation of an eagle replica on Rawal Road is yet to be finished.

The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) has donated Rs2 million for the remodeling of the Fawara Chowk.

Remodeling of Fawara Chowk, decoration of underpasses are parts of the campaign

Under the project, six pillars will be constructed around the fountain and covered with roofs like the Mughal-era bara dari.

The figurative work representing the cultures of the four provinces, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as well as the carved figures of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal were carried out on the walls of the commissioner office.

The PHA had already carried out similar work at Committee Chowk and the overhead railway bridge at Marir Chowk.

It also made floral national flags in front of Jinnah Park and Faizabad while flowerbeds were arranged along Murree Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Marrir Chowk, Sixth Road and under the Chandni Chowk flyover.

The PHA hired the services of artisans for the truck artwork on the walls of Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

The residents of the city expressed mixed reactions on the work carried out by the PHA. Some termed it good and others pointed out that the authority should also pay attention to the inner city areas.

“The figurative work is being done at District Courts Square - Kutchery Chowk - but the PHA should also plant trees along the road also. One side of the road is looking beautiful but the one on the excise and taxation office side also needs attention of the civic body,” said Kamran Ahmed, a resident of Civil Lines.

He said instead of improving the walls of the commissioner office, the PHA should have spent the public money on the development of greenbelts along the roads.

Tufail Ahmed, a resident of Usmanpura, said Fawara Chowk was being reconstructed but the PHA had to plant trees in the medians of roads and look after the plants on Liaquat Road.

He said some trees planted on the median of the road needed attention of the PHA. “Flowerbeds are only for Civil Lines area and around the commissioner office. It appears that the PHA officials are trying to please their bosses only,” he said.

When contacted, PHA Director General Malik Abid said they had launched the beautification drive to improve the face of the city from G.T. Road to Islamabad.

“Floral national flags have been established in front of Jinnah Park and Faizabad for the Pakistan Day. The PHA also installed banners and streamers in the city to highlight the services of the police and the Army to make the country safe.”

He said an eagle replica would be installed at Rawal Road near Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

However, he said, flowerbeds were set up along many roads besides improving the condition of the parks.

To a question, he said there was no proposal to name the square at Rawal Road after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

“We installed the eagle statue as the square was near the Air Force installations,” he said.

He said there were other plans but due to a shortage of funds it could not be completed in a fast pace.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017