ISLAMABAD: Landscapist three months away from developing garden at F-9 Park

[CMY]

Landscapist three months away from developing garden at F-9 Park

By Imran Naeem Ahmad

ISLAMABAD: Plans to have a top landscapist from Japan to develop a Japanese-style garden at the sprawling Fatima Jinnah Park aKa F-9 Park are still on despite a massive delay, officials said on Tuesday.

Yo Fukazawa, Director Press and Culture at the Embassy of Japan, told Daily Times that delay in arrival of landscape artist, Kitayama Yasuo, was because of ‘acceptability’ by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Yasuo who visited Islamabad in September last year had held preliminary negotiations with the CDA officials. He was to return to the capital in December the same year to start work on the project, however, he is now expected to arrive within three months.

“The arrangements between him and the CDA have now been finalised,” said Fukazawa who made it clear that the landscapist was ‘ready to come and would come’ to Islamabad.

Dismissing the notion that Yaso had been delayed because of security concerns, Fukazawa pointed out that this was no issue for the landscapist. “Security may be an issue for many Japanese but not for him,” he said.

Dr Faisal Awan, Director Project Management Office of CDA, said that the project was at a planning stage. “The landscapist is due to submit his design to us by the end of this month following which work would start,” he said.

“We are keen on working with the landscapist but there are certain modalities that have to be finalised,” he said, adding that the garden would be developed under the supervision of the artist.

The official said that CDA was also interested in having more countries develop their traditional style of gardens at the park. “We have held talks with the Dutch in this regard and would want other countries to establish such facilities,” he said.

During his visit last year, the landscape specialist, who is renowned for being the best in making traditional Japanese gardens, visited the F-9 Park that he found to be perfect for establishing the facility.

“Fatima Jinnah Park is huge and I look at it as a good place for people to relax and I also find it appropriate for making several other styles of international gardens,” the expert had said on his last visit.

The artist said that the facility would be a typical and traditional Japanese garden with waterfalls being one of the key attractions besides bridges and ponds.

It is understood that water features would be an essential part of the garden and in developing it, the artist would be using mostly Pakistani plants and flowers while seeking help of local labour and gardeners.

The CDA is currently developing a vast area of the park. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had prepared the master plan of the park that spreads over an area of 760 acres, which was later revised by renowned architect Nayyar Ali Dada.