PESHAWAR: A large number of visitors showed up at opening ceremony of annual chrysanthemum festival at Islamia College University here on Monday.

Launched for the first time in 1920, the floral show attracted visitors in droves since then. Students and teachers from and around Peshawar kept thronging the event till its end.

The historic Islamia College has kept up the golden tradition of exhibition of the chrysanthemum (Gul-i-Dawoodi) since then where flower buffs including dignitaries, students, teachers, old Islamians and families witnessed the wonderful display of varieties of the floral show heralding the winter season.

The organisers of the event said that the number of visitors had increased over the years owing to significance of the floral show, keeping in view climate change which had wreaked havoc on people’s lives.

The floral show was arranged under the umbrella of Pakistan Floral Art Society (PFAS). Farah Azam, chairperson of PFAS, said that the tradition of floral display registered a very positive impact on impressionistic youth and should be continued.

Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi and his wife paid a special visit ICU where warm welcome was accorded to them.

The secretary of higher education, Dr Mohammad Israr Khan, inaugurated the floral show alongside ICU Vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Rehman Saljoqi and senior faculty members.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Israr Khan asked students to participate in such fruitful activities on the campus and use their talent to work against climate hazards. He added that exhibition of Gul-i-Dawoodi had already become a signature event of the historic institution.

More than 30 stalls, showcasing several varieties of Gul-i-Dawoodi, were set up on the lawns of ICU that would remain open for visitors till December 25, coinciding birth day of Qauid-i-Azam, father of the nation.

Ali Hoti, sports director of ICU, on the occasion said that Islamians had always showed great interest in positive and healthy activities and ever year students of different disciplines actively participated in organising that event.

Later, visitors took a round of the floral stalls and appreciated the work of the organisers of the event, gardeners and student volunteers.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025