Lahore: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) now operates across all 41 districts of the province following the addition of 20 more district agencies, Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid announced on Friday. This development creates a unified structure to manage Punjab’s green spaces.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the PHA was established last year as an umbrella body for 10 existing independent district agencies. It later incorporated 11 more agencies under its control. A recent notification has further extended its reach by bringing another 20 district horticulture agencies under its purview.

The districts newly incorporated into the PHA include Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chakwal, Attock, Layyah, Rajanpur, Kasur, Pakpattan, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Lodhran, Vehari, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Talagang, Kot Addu, Taunsa, and Wazirabad.

To manage the transition, the PHA has established district-level teams responsible for overseeing the transfer of assets and human resources from municipal corporations and local government departments. Each team is led by the relevant deputy commissioner and includes the district managing director and other officials. Neighboring established agencies will assist the new ones in setting up offices, Mr. Javaid stated.

Mr. Javaid emphasized that the expansion would enable the PHA to implement a coordinated approach to horticulture management across Punjab, enhancing institutional capacity at the district level. The goal is to improve the maintenance of parks and public spaces, expand green cover, and ensure consistent landscaping standards.

The department is also focused on developing city-specific horticulture plans, considering factors such as local climate, soil conditions, water availability, and urban infrastructure. The overall strategy includes establishing nurseries in individual districts to provide affordable plants to the public, along with performance-based monitoring of district agencies.