A fading "Green"

A pleasant drizzle greeted me again. The caressing cold breeze was blowing across bringing a soothing comfort on a late May afternoon. Moisture ridden atmosphere and the typical rich green undulating landscape brought a refreshing sensation to the weary mind. The familiar profile of the Margalla hills lurked in the distance grazing the thick clouds sailing above. Sloping facade of the hills covered with prodigious bush, grass and tree cover marked the indenting boundary visible intermittently. As I relished the charm of the fabulous moment, it unleashed an emotional storm of a series of sweet treasured memories of the past.

The city of Islamabad of yester years popped up in my mind with its propelling outlook. A well planned and organized metropolitan center stood there with all its glory and sublime beauty, encompassed by its natural green environs. A more or less regular grid of wide metalled roads, overshadowed by profuse growth, ran across bisecting each other at regular intersections and nodes. Wide green belts in between, occasional lush green slopes or frequent cluster of trees, creepers and fresh green grassy patches along the edges of the kerbed roads and tall arching light poles augmented the magnetism of the place. Well-defined residential, commercial and industrial areas began to consolidate in varying stages of development.

Life was peaceful and serene with its own pulse and aura. A unique culture of the modern city was evolving blending together and harmonizing the diverse lifestyles, linguistic, ethical and social groups. Murghazar, Shakar Parian and Rawal lake were some of the earliest “formal” known resorts. While Shakar Parian with its remarkably laid contours and flower beds afforded an amazing view of the Federal capital, boating in and a walk along the Rawal dam and lake added to the delicate subtle charm.” Rose and Jasmine garden” and the “Japnese park” are the other ones to be remembered from a whole lot.

Trips to the Murree, Simli dam and Angoori were much of a joy and so was the exploration of the peculiar Margallas. It always required a lot of canvassing to convince one of us to borrow a car from his dad or bro upon one pretext or the other. Convincing another one to pay for the meals was another challenge. Window shopping and “social” gatherings at Jinnah Super and Super market were an amusing entertainment. Lok virsa, cultural and art activities and industrial exhibitions rendered magical touch to the life in the city.

The skyline of the city gradually transformed and the town expanded with development of more sectors, parks and public places. Faisal mosque was a valuable addition and the Blue Area shaped into a high profile commercial hub. Architectural masterpieces like Saudi Pak tower, Shaheed-e Millat Secretariat and Evacuee Trust made their conspicuous presence felt.

The so called “dead city” continued to get more lively with the passage of time. Our visits to Pappassalis became more frequent with the experience getting more fulfilling each time. Wonderful evenings of Islamabad club left numerous flashbacks to be cherished. The bowling fun and the mouthwatering ice cream at “Hot Spot” were addictive activities providing a worthwhile reason to place bets upon only to quarrel over the payments and settlements subsequently. Food park was launched in the vicinity of the Melody market and invited a lot of attention with its wide variety and delightful food and a food street in the Blue Area was next to follow.

Joyrides to the lovely Pir Sohawa to witness those enchanting sun sets and watch the golden blaze go down against the backdrop of Rawal lake was simply breathtaking. Roaming on those non-existent tracks and jeep rides through the ditches, water courses and green pastures and slopes of Margallas was a thrilling experience.

My eyes staring blankly at a distance and with a lopsided nostalgic smile, I vividly relived one of the evenings when our jeep got stuck in the mud in one of the foothills adjacent to E-11 sector. Another jeep was ushered in that too got stuck on a mud track on that rainy day. Luckily for us, it was closer to the urban limits and we could hire a tractor to recover the second jeep. The rope and man power proved in handy during such situations and that was the key to witnessing some of the most amazing but subdued landscapes and valleys trapped within the Margalla stretch.

Life had a lot to offer. A rainy summer afternoon would make us bunk and gather at the local hill side restaurant at Pir Sohawa for a barbecue. The amazing F-6 Margalla walking trail was a perfect respite after a hectic day’s work. One would count down many familiar flushed faces, hands firmly gripping the mineral water’s bottle, while trekking up and down the serpentine trail. On sunny weekend winter mornings or damp summer ones, we would hike all the way up to the Pir Sohawa restaurant and enjoy a spicy brunch. That reminds me of “Talhaar” a small resort that was developed amidst Margallas and encouraged outings on the weekends. Other than food, the offerings comprised a small library, a couple of tents and a few indoor games. However, it could not survive long enough for some reason and the place, I guess, was ultimately closed down.

Life goes on and so does the evolution of Islamabad. There has been a lot of development lately with the flyovers and underpasses in the making. Avenues like 7th and 9th avenue have been widened and constructed depleting the green belts and creating the balding effect. For one it has reduced the risks of notorious pollen allergy with that massive uprooting of green patches. Sky scrapers like Centaurus and Stock Exchange building are in the process of their erection. Work for the expansion of 6th road is round the corner that would wipe out huge clusters of trees and chunks of green.

Road side restaurant at Pir Sohawa with its rustic canopy has been overshadowed by the launch of fabulous dining heaven “Monal” in its neighbourhood. With its large cantilevered terraces open to sky and wide menu the place offers an amazing dining experience with an immaculate view of Islamabad after the dusk. Hi-tea makes your money worth on a moist breezy early evening.

Amongst others, KC Grill holds a special place when it comes to picking an “in” spot for a cup of coffee, snacks and a dining pleasure. “Saeed Book Bank” continues to come out with versatile stuff and so does the “Traditions” in offering unique leather products and designs.

Not surprisingly, Islamabad has changed over the years but so have we and everything around us ….. and change…….is continous and inevitable and even desirable sometimes. The change is unstoppable and will continue and we can do nothing about it. But perhaps the only thing we can do is to effect that change and try to change the things for good…..A change that does not afflict the essence of the life and the typical mood of the capital city!