April 4, 2004

The beautiful image on the title page sets the tone for the book under review. The photograph by the author, who is a seasoned photographer, captures the first dawn of the 21st century at Shakarparian. This book titled Islamabad & Environs has more visuals and the reader is not disappointed. A very neatly packaged book, half of which consists of photographs, the first seven pages are a showcase of a city endowed well by nature. The book is a testimony to M. Hanif Raza’s love for Islamabad and its surroundings.

A well-researched publication, it gives with painstaking details the history and geography of the region. Located in the northeastern part of the Pothhar (Potohar) plateau, the federal area around the capital site has an area of more than 36,000 square kilometres. Nature is in abundance and tree covered mountains, valleys, forests, lakes and rivers add to the scenic beauty of the place. The Potohar region is one of the oldest in Pakistan and home to many civilizations. Due to its ancient heritage and its beauty, climate, communications and power resources and availability of building material it became a feasible choice for the rulers looking out for a new capital in 1958. The selection of Islamabad was announced in 1959. The preliminary master plan was made by a Greek firm, which was accepted by President Ayub Khan. The name Islamabad was selected from an open competition by the government in 1960. The first digging was made in the area now known as Aabpara.

Away from the human jungle are the Margalla Hills that offer beauty to the people and habitat to various species of animals and birds which have been facilitated by intensive forestation, ban on hunting and legal protection to wildlife.

There is also a chapter on the interesting places that visitors as well as residents can visit such as Rawal Lake, Sports Complex, Shah Faisal Mosque, Tomb of Shah Barri Imam, and the Art Gallery. Nearby are Murree and the Gallies where day trips as well as overnight stays can be made.

The first traces of man in the area go back to the Stone Age. Some stone implements found in the Soan Valley have led scholars to believe that there were human settlements as early as 3000-1500 BC when the Neolithic, Kot Digian and the Indus Valley civilizations flourished. Through the years the Aryans, the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Huns, the Rajputs, Mahmud Ghaznavi, the Ghakkars and then the Sikhs ruled over this area. In 1849 the Sikhs surrendered to the British. In 1947 the British left and Pakistan came into being with the federal capital in Karachi. In 1959 Rawalpindi was declared the interim capital of Pakistan.

The reader is given a bird’s-eye view of the places located on the G.T. Road on the route to Peshawar. One comes across Taxila, an archaeological treasure, not too far away from the Margalla Pass. With its Buddhist stupas and the legends of the various conquerors, Taxila is an interesting place. The visuals of Attock, Peshawar and the Salt Range of Kallar Kahar are most instructive, apart from the accounts and pictures of the forts which dot the area and are replete with history.

Islamabad is a relatively young city sans forts, palaces, historical buildings and gardens. Dominated by the Margalla Hills it has well-planned, wide tree-lined avenues, open spaces, parks and gardens. Having lived there for more than 30 years the author recalls the Islamabad of the ‘70s, which was neat, clean and secure. The Islamabad of the 21st century is bogged down by enormous problems. He laments that years ago he would go fishing in the numerous streams, which were clean and full of fish. Those streams have now become nullahs, which contain sewerage water, and the fish have, since long, disappeared while people fall ill after drinking water from these nullahs. The author feels this city could have been developed properly. But mismanagement reigns supreme and those who claim that Islamabad is shahr-i-bemisal are only bragging.

This book should stimulate interest in the readers in these places. This is what the tourism department should be doing. The excellent photography makes the book a treasure for the coffee table. The author has put in a lot of effort but one wishes that the book had been better edited.

Islamabad & Environs
By M. Hanif Raza
Best Books, #343, Street # 41, Sector G-9/1, Islamabad. Tel: 051-2251666
Email: hraza@comsats.net.pk
ISBN 969-8657-02-9
168pp. Rs995

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