Punjab to set up Parks Authorities in all districts

LAHORE, Oct 09 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the establishment of Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) in all districts of the province, with a January 2027 deadline for setting up the bodies in 20 more districts.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the chief minister on Friday, where officials briefed her on the progress of existing PHAs and plans to expand their operations across Punjab.

The meeting was informed that PHAs were already functional in 10 districts, while new authorities had been established in 11 others. The government also approved recruitment against 2,820 technical posts, including managing directors, directors and district-level technical staff.

In the second phase, PHAs will be established in every tehsil of Punjab. The chief minister directed officials to prepare district-wise resource plans, launch phased plantation drives and develop monthly plans for planting seasonal flowers. She also called for key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the performance of PHA officials.

The meeting decided to establish in-house nurseries in every district to provide plants at affordable prices. The design of PHA food courts was also approved, while uniform branding for staff and vehicles was planned.

The Chief Minister has directed officials to launch a province-wide green initiative, ordering the plantation of trees and flowers in all available vacant spaces. To ensure visual harmony, she called for the standardization of planters and flowerpots across all cities. During a briefing, officials confirmed that all Category C parks in Lahore have been fully restored, and each Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has been assigned specific targets to enhance urban landscapes, beautify parks, and rehabilitate green belts. District plantation plans will now be tailored to seasonal requirements, featuring regional highlights like bougainvillea along Khayaban-i-Jinnah, bamboo along Atta Bakhsh Road, and amaltas trees on major thoroughfares, alongside three varieties of marigolds province-wide. Additionally, to maximize operational efficiency, all PHA staff assigned to private residences have been recalled to their official duties. Emphasizing her vision, the Chief Minister stated, “I want every city, town, and village to be adorned with trees and plants and filled with the fragrance of flowers,” noting that environmental conservation is a virtuous act essential for public health and climate resilience.