ISLAMABAD Arranging flowers is a relaxing and rewarding hobby, not to mention that it adds a great deal of beauty to any room but the Pakistan Floral Art Society has turned this art a source of fundraising for the victims of worst ever floods in Pakistan. The event was organised here Thursday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The floral arrangement experts from Lahore and Karachi also participated along with their contemporaries from the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. All the floral art experts were the women who demonstrated their best skills, techniques, talent and aesthetics to creatively put in place all their flowers and supporting objects in harmony of beauty. The daylong floral extravaganza was also enjoyed equally by the male visitors and the girl-students. About a hundred arrangements were displayed on the occasion. In the category of international influence, the most attractive and creative arrangement were done by Farhat zaman, Salma, Anver Jahan Ansari, Asifa Ansari, and Farida Kalim. The floral art is also influenced by the sculpture and painting. Qurat ul Ain, Shaista Khawar, Saima, Nazli Asif and Mussarat Zain could manage to excel with their quite unusual arrangements which are wonderful pieces of contemporary art but in the form of floral arrangements. Salma Ansari and Nasreen Chima were among those who have carried with the French inspiration. Tanveer Iftikhar Arif, Yasmeen Sohail, Zehra Aslam, Farhana Azeem, Asman Ansari and Shameena Saeed were among the floral art experts who also demonstrated their skills live for the benefit of learning for the young women. 35 years ago, in Karachi, a group of talented ladies got together to lay the foundations of this society. A simple coffee morning was transformed to a form of expressive art. Gradually, as the word spread, more friends showed interest. The little designs created were seen and admired by art lovers. Members increased, new ideas were brought in and the society started taking shape. Exhibitions were put up, competitions held which were much appreciated and became an event to look forward to. So, in 1970, the Karachi Floral Art Society was formally formed. In 1972, Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan was made Patron of the society. In 1973, the first Flower Show opened for public viewing was held at the PACC, inaugurated by Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan, then Governor of Sindh and President of APWA. Since then, the society has played its key role in promoting the floral arrangement to as an art. The society is quite active in all the major cities of the country.