Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has installed thousands of planters and decorated structures in a bid to beautify the provincial capital.

Multiple planters installed on Jail Road, Ferozpur Road and other areas of the city are not only getting attention of citizens but also attracting birds.

In this connection, talking to Daily Times, PHA Director General Mian Shakeel Wednesday said that more planters would be installed with bright flowers as party of city’s beautification initiative undertaken by the department to provide a health and green environment to Lahoris.

The PHA has also installed attractive ‘Vertical Horticulture Structures’ at various points of the city including Centre Point, Hafeez Centre and Home Economics College, Eden Centre, Gaddafi Stadium Gate Ferozpur Road, Junction of Southern Bypass and Canal Road, Azadi Chowk Roundabout, canal crossings, Babu Sabu Interchange, Shadman Chowk and Karim Block.

Meanwhile, citizens have shown a mixed reaction during talks with Daily Times, saying that the PHA was doing good work for giving a superior look to city but it should also plant those trees, which were favourable wildlife. They said that artwork on trees and plants was not an easy task but the PHA’s work was praiseworthy.

They said flowers pots along the roads and parks had added beauty to the city environment.

The PHA director general said that the purpose of planters’ installation was to enhance the beauty of ‘City of Garden’. He said the department had installed different types of planters including wood boxes to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

He said the beautification work would give a healthy environment to the citizens. He said that PHA was receiving a positive response from people, especially children.

Thousands of trees in the city had been cut down owing to the ongoing development work including Jail Road Signal-Free Project, Ferozpur Road, Metro Bus Service, Orange Line Metro Train, Extension of Moulana Shaukat Ali Road and Raiwind Road.

According to an estimate, 620 trees were coming in the way of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, 1300 in Canal Road widening project.