PESHAWAR - International Jury has selected city of Peshawar for Townscape Awards 2016 titled as ‘City Beautification and Uplift Programme’ which is recognition of the efforts towards improving the living condition of the people of Peshawar.
Award giving ceremony will be held in Yinchan city China on October 29, this year. The decision to this effect was conveyed to government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the Jury through a letter. This is an honour for the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a lot of countries were in the run to win this competition.
The Jury, who selected government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the joint session in Fukoaka, Japan on September 17th, consisted of four organisers i.e. UN HABITAT, Asian Habitat Society, Asian Townscape Design Society and Kukuaka Urban Research Centre.
The Jury has set tough criteria for selecting the winner city; main emphasis was on developmental strategy which is economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable.
Key other points also included respect for regional culture, history, high artistic quality and becoming a model for other cities. It merits mentioning here that 40 projects under ‘City beautification and uplift programme’ were either completed or in the process of completion. These included rehabilitation of parks and open spaces, widening of roads, squares, canals and water fronts, preservation of historical buildings, tourists sites, public buildings, city entrances, traffic system, food streets, sports and recreation.
Though, most of the projects are in the pipeline, but the Jury was inspired by the vision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to make provincial metropolis a model City.