Spring flower show opens in Peshawar

Muhammad Irshadullah

PESHAWAR: The Cantonment Board Peshawar inaugurated the 16th edition of its annual rose and spring flower show at Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed Park on Tuesday.

Organised under the auspices of the Military Lands and Cantonments Department, the annual event is part of a countrywide initiative aimed at fostering public engagement with nature and promoting horticultural awareness.

Corps Commander Peshawar was chief guest on the occasion and in his address, he lauded the efforts of station commander Brigadier Umar Saeed Afridi and Cantonment Executive Officer Chaudhry Babar Hussain for orchestrating the floral showcase, terming it a “gift of spring” to the residents of Peshawar.

The exhibition features over 200 varieties of seasonal flowers and will remain open to the public until April 18. More than 70 participants, including teams from Cantonment Board Peshawar, CMH, FC Fort Bala Hisar, PAF Base and Air Headquarters took part.

First-time participants such as the University of Agriculture, Bacha Khan College, Islamia College University, Umeed Special Education School, and Ordnance 75 were also acknowledged for their contributions.

Cantonment Board Peshawar clinched the top position overall. A series of competitions added to the festivities, including a cut flower contest for women and a painting/sketching segment for schoolchildren. Mishal Khan received first prize in the women’s category, while students from Government Girls High School Islamia Collegiate secured top honours in the children’s painting competition.

The event also featured cultural performances by students from Umeed Special Education School and a colourful tableau by children from Cantt Public Schools, both of which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Now a signature event on the city’s cultural calendar, the flower show continues to attract families, garden enthusiasts, and nature lovers, transforming the cantonment area into a canvas of colour and fragrance each spring.