CDA to spend Rs 171 million to uplift parks

[Salman]

Mega park to be developed in Sector G13

ISLAMABAD: According to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz, the CDA would spend around Rs 171 million for uplifting and maintaining public parks across the city for the residents and to protect the environmental beauty of the capital.

He said this during the prize distribution ceremony of a travelling nature carnival organised by the Indus Motor Company and WWF.

“Though many parks have been developed in Islamabad but no attention has been paid to maintain and uplift them. The CDA would now carry out the task before these facilities lose their attraction and utility,” the CDA chairman also said. He added that the CDA was spending “millions of rupees” on the development of a mega park in Sector G13 to provide entertainment and recreational facilities to the residents.

Tahir Shahbaz also said that the park was being developed along the Kashmir Highway and this would also help curb encroachments in the area.

The CDA chairman added that the park would be adorned with natural landscape, which would be developed by using natural stones found in the area. He also said that the park would be equipped with various facilities, including sports facilities, play areas for kids, jogging tracks and fountains, to provide a soothing environment to the visitors.

Syed Tahir Shahbaz lauded WWF and the Indus Motor Company for organising the nature carnival and said that the uniqueness of Islamabad’s beauty lied in its ‘green character’ that needed to be protected at any cost.

The nature carnival attracted hundreds of visitors, including students from around 100 schools, five colleges and 10 leading public and private sector universities. The students competed in a 3D model making competition on various environmental themes

The aim of the nature carnival was to create awareness among the residents, especially the youth, about environmental protection, climate change and elimination of pollution from the city.

The competition had various themes, such as ‘Solid Waste Management’, ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’, ‘Marine Conservation’, ‘Save Forests, Save Water’, ‘Converting Waste to Energy’, ‘Reducing Water, Energy and Carbon Footprint’, ‘Water and Sanitation’ and ‘Green Economy’.

The carnival also featured several other interactive and educational activities, including environment-oriented games, puppet shows, musical performances and art and quizzes competitions.

The CDA chairman distributed WWF branded shields, trophies and certificates among the winning students.