RAWALPINDI – Chairman Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Tariq Mehmood Thursday said that RDA was focusing to promote kitchen gardening. RDA had launched a project last year and nearly 500 five marla selected houses were provided stands and seeds for kitchen gardening. Steel framed kitchen gardening racks were distributed among selected households, he added. Selected persons were also imparted training and women were particularly motivated to grow vegetables at their homes.

He said that planting vegetables in homes had benefited the common people and they were getting free vegetables. The chairman said that a plan was being finalized in collaboration with Akhuwat Foundation. A project would be launched to provide micro loans. Under the project, interest-free loans would be provided for kitchen gardening and RDA would provide seeds free of cost.

He said that such small scale, social sector projects could provide jobs to the people and they could get better livelihoods besides getting organic vegetables which would improve their health and reduce their expenses.

On the occasion, District Health Officer Dr Ehsan Ghani briefed the Secretary that anti-Covid jabs were also being administered to students above 12 years at the educational institutions while the district’s Covid-19 vaccination target would be achieved by October 30.

Saleh directed the health officials to provide maximum possible facilities to dengue fever suspects and patients reaching hospitals as the Punjab government had provided the latest equipment to ensure proper treatment of those admitted. The Secretary said that officials should visit the dengue-affected areas and review the quality of medical facilities provided to the patients in hospitals.