PHA to establish theme park in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi is planning to establish an international standard theme park in Rawalpindi.

Talking to this agency, PHA Chairman, Asif Mehmood informed that the PHA on the directive of the Prime Minister Imran Khan was preparing a plan to develop the park here in collaboration with Turkish government to provide modern entertainment facilities to the citizens. He said that the PHA would also install art works at public places including at Murree Road to enhance the overall beauty of the surroundings.

The beautification initiatives would be taken to provide better recreational facilities to the public, he added. He further informed the plantation drive launched by the PHA Rawalpindi was in full swing and all out efforts were being made to make the campaigns a success. He informed that the drive was launched here to achieve targets set for Clean and Green Punjab Program. He said that the saplings were planted in different areas of the city. A special cleanliness campaign was also launched, he added.

The students, traders, social and political leaders and civil society members were participating in the plantation campaign which would continue till May, he added. The PHA was providing plants free of cost to the citizens during the on-going spring plantation campaign. The saplings of different species were planted in different areas of the city including Arid Agriculture University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Satellite Town College, Committee Chowk Graveyard, Adyala Jail, Police Line, Police Stations, Rescue-15, Shamsabad complex, IJP Road, Raja Bazar, College Road, DAV College Road, Khayaban Muslim Park and Rawalpindi Press Club. He said that the students of schools and colleges actively participated in the plantation campaign. The civil society members were also planting saplings and seeds in different areas of the city and ensuring their care as well, he said adding, they had also started planting trees in the hilly areas around the city.

Efforts were being made during the campaign to sensitize the people to come forward and participate in the plantation campaign, he said. The PHA also organized a snow festival at Murree to highlight importance of the plantation. An awareness walk was arranged here from Muhammadi Chowk, Khayaban-e-Sir-Syed to Awan Chowk, Khayaban.

To encourage the plantation and to turn the city into a green town, the authority had prepared a plantation float which was moving across the city highlighting the fruits, vegetables and flowers of the region and those which were being promoted during the spring plantation campaign, he said.

To a question he informed that the traders and PHA had decided to work together to revive and enhance the natural beauty of the city. In this regard, the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and PHA Rawalpindi had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Under the agreement, RCCI and PHA would make joint efforts for promotion of clean environment, beautifying crossroads, pavements, better design of parks and revival of the city’s heritage, he added. The PHA and National Highways Authority would sign a MoU soon to beautify 23 kilometres long New Islamabad International Airport Road, Metro Link Road and Cargo Road.