Key Takeaways
- Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) will establish nurseries in every city for affordable plants.
- Indigenous species like Amaltas, Neem, and Bougainvillea will be prioritized in city-specific landscaping.
- The initiative aims to make plantation a sustained part of urban planning, enhancing climate resilience.
The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has announced plans to establish nurseries in every city across Punjab to supply affordable plants for local communities. This initiative, directed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aims to enhance urban greenery and promote climate-resilient green spaces.
Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid, addressing a virtual meeting of district agencies’ managing directors, highlighted the importance of city-specific landscaping. He stated that indigenous species such as Amaltas, Neem, and Bougainvillea will be prioritized, noting their suitability for local conditions and ornamental landscaping.
The PHA will also plant bamboo near selected drainage corridors, leveraging its dense root network to help bind soil and stabilize embankments, potentially reducing erosion. Amaltas, with its yellow flower clusters, is ideal for avenues, parks, and green belts, while Bougainvillea is suitable for hedges and medians, both thriving in Punjab’s sunny climate.
To ensure the success of these initiatives, district agencies will prepare monthly plans for planting seasonal flowers. The PHA will also develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge officials’ performance and progress against targets. These KPIs will cover plantation programmes, the upkeep of parks and public spaces, and the timely completion of development projects.
The PHA will place uniform planters and flowerpots along roads, footpaths, and green belts in all cities, giving urban landscaping a consistent look. This initiative complements the PHA’s recent completion of its annual monsoon plantation drive, which was ideal for young saplings due to abundant rainfall.
The broader objective is to make plantation a sustained part of urban planning rather than a seasonal activity. This requires not only planting saplings but also ensuring their survival through appropriate watering, maintenance, and monitoring. The PHA’s strategy replaces a uniform plantation model with city-specific landscaping, tailored to local climate, soil, water availability, and urban infrastructure.
The PHA’s approach is consistent with Punjab’s urban-forestry policy, which favours species selection based on local conditions. This initiative aligns with the provincial government’s push for climate-resilient green spaces, aiming to improve the quality of life for residents and enhance the aesthetic appeal of cities.
