Lahore: MNN
The Punjab government has approved the establishment of Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) in every district of the province, with a target to set up authorities in 20 additional districts by January 2027.
The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, where officials briefed the participants on the progress and future expansion of the PHA network.
The chief minister directed officials to prepare a resource plan for establishing PHAs in every district. The meeting was informed that PHAs are currently operational in 10 districts, while new authorities have also been established in 11 additional districts.
The meeting set a January 2027 deadline for establishing PHAs in 20 more districts. In the second phase, the government plans to establish Parks and Horticulture Authorities in every tehsil across Punjab.
The meeting also approved recruitment against 2,820 technical posts for the PHAs. Each district authority will recruit a managing director, directors, and technical staff.
The chief minister directed officials to develop a phased plantation strategy covering every tehsil, city, and village. She also ordered the establishment of in-house nurseries in every district to provide affordable plants for tree plantation and seasonal flowers.
Officials were directed to prepare monthly plans for growing flowering plants according to seasonal requirements. The meeting also approved the design of PHA food courts and decided to introduce uniform branding for PHA staff and vehicles.
Maryam Nawaz directed officials to plant trees and flowers in all available vacant spaces and ordered the development of key performance indicators (KPIs) for PHA officers to improve accountability and performance.
The meeting was informed that all C-category parks in Lahore had been restored. Each PHA has also been assigned targets to improve the urban landscape, beautify parks, and restore green belts.
Officials said standardized plantation plans would be implemented in every district according to seasonal and climatic conditions. Bougainvillea plants have been planted along Khayaban-e-Jinnah, bamboo along Atta Bakhsh Road, and amaltas trees along other roads.
The briefing also highlighted the cultivation of all three varieties of marigold flowers across Punjab. Orders have been issued for PHA staff working at residential locations to return to their offices.
The government also plans to introduce uniform designs for planters and flower pots in cities across the province.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said she wanted every city, town, and village in Punjab to be decorated with trees and plants and filled with flowers.
She said tree plantation benefits the environment, improves human health, and helps mitigate the effects of climate change. She added that planting trees is also a virtuous act.
