He loves me, he loves me not ... he loves me! The lion that was threatening us for the past three years finally arrived. SAF Games, in a state of uncertainty for so many years, commenced on March 29. The much-talked about (and practised) ceremony and grand finale met the expectations of the nation. The fever, unfortunately, could not take full control, overshadowed as it was by the Pak-India cricket flu.
Close-circuit cameras at different points, X-ray belts, big barracks of sandbags hiding lone army jawans with rifles, anti-aircraft guns, commandos, Frontier Constabulary personnel and helicopters manoeuvring over the Capital — the entire event was held under such strict security that it spoiled the spirit of the games the nation had been looking forward to for so many years. To add insult to injury, the finale got washed away with the rain and the fireworks had to be bundled up halfway.
The cultural activities associated with SAF Games could not make their mark either due to the low turnout. The good thing was that many Pakistani companies were given a chance to prove their mettle. However, the ongoing Margalla Festival organized by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), complemented the games and provided a heavy doze of entertainment to the starved residents of the twin cities who thronged the venue with their families. The tickets priced at a very affordable Rs23 per head gave the masses a chance to enjoy concerts by Noori, Strings Jal and Jadoo, as well.
BEAUTIFYING
ISLAMABAD
If you had 700 acres of canvas, what would you create? A newspaper advertisement inviting services of professional landscape architects and designers for the F-9 Park project appeared recently. The recent changes (for the better) in the Capital are causing great concern to nature-loving residents and environment activist who are scared the city, just turned 40, might lose its serenity in the rapid beautification process.
“‘Islamabad is a beautiful city but its very dull’ is an all-too-common statement that one hears from visitors to the Capital. “We at CDA are trying hard to remove this stigma by creating recreation and entertainment opportunities,” says Kamran Lashari, who took over as the CDA chairman a few months back.
Praising Islamabad, he says it’s full of natural beauty. Scenic views, green landscape and open spaces are its basic assets and prime attractions. “It’s already a very beautiful city, it just needs to be made a little more lively and public-friendly. The ground is very well laid and there is a lot of scope. Yet, everything has to be done very carefully. It cannot be loud or garish for then it will clash with the overall natural setting of the city. We are very mindful of that. Every place has its own beauty, even deserts. It’s how you present or market it.” Surrounded by the Margalla Hills, he feels it’s a pity that very few of the offices and building have a view overlooking the hills.
Before his appointment and as a visitor to Islamabad, Kamran Lashari always felt that the city was devoid of basic amenities at major tourist spots. “There are places that offer so much in terms of natural beauty, such as Rawal Lake, Daman-i-Koh and Pir Sohava, but there wasn’t any decent place to sit. All we had was a substandard cabin or khoka. Whether a remote or a busy place, a bench, some shade, dustbins, a water tap, a phone booth, a public toilet and a decent cafe is all you need.” He says his vision of Islamabad is to provide all these facilities in an organized way. To a question whether he misses Lahore, his hometown, he replies in the negative. “The spirit of public service is that wherever you are, it should be a part of you. Islamabad is the showcase of Pakistan. I hope I get sufficient time to make a mark.”
He informed that a PC1 has been prepared with Rs10 million for reshaping Daman-i-Koh and promises that there will be no environmental degradation. “We are not going for any humongous structures, its just playing with the spaces. We are very careful in this regard and insist on maintaining the serenity and greenery of the area. The atmosphere should breathe beauty and aesthetics. “Everything is for the people, if they can’t access it, it’s useless,” says Lashari.
He loves me, he loves me not ... he loves me! The lion that was threatening us for the past three years finally arrived. SAF Games, in a state of uncertainty for so many years, commenced on March 29. The much-talked about (and practised) ceremony and grand finale met the expectations of the nation. The fever, unfortunately, could not take full control, overshadowed as it was by the Pak-India cricket flu.
