Azerbaijan, a close friend of Pakistan, has been playing a key part in enhancing the beauty of Islamabad through several projects, with one of its embassy officials touting the initiative as the federal capital “entering a modern renaissance phase”.

The government of Azerbaijan, through its own funds and expertise, has been executing a “mega beautification” project in Islamabad, and in some areas, the work is near completion. Sources said that during his visit to Baku in 2023 (during his first stint), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was “highly impressed” by the beautification work, particularly by the landscaping work along the roads of Azerbaijan’s capital. After this, he sought Baku’s help for replicating such work in Islamabad.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev subsequently directed the department concerned in Baku to cooperate with Pakistani authorities to enhance the beauty of Islamabad. Eventually, a team of experts from Baku visited Islamabad last year to survey various sites. Then, they flew back before coming up with detailed plans for the beautification work. Currently, the Azeri teams, with their own funding and expertise, are getting beautification work done in various areas through Pakistani contractors.

This includes the Srinagar Highway right from the airport to Murree Road, the facelift and renovation work of Saidpur village, and the revamping of the Melody Food Park in Sector G-6. They are also developing a portion of the Capital Development Authority’s nursery on Park Road.

“We are very happy to see this beautification work. This work is adding to the beauty of Islamabad. We are thankful to the government of Azerbaijan,” said Mehboob Chaudhry, who lives near Melody Market.

Another citizen Zakir Hussain said that after beautification work, Srinagar Highway has started presenting a new look. “I tell you, once this work is completed, then people will start enjoying the ‘real beauty’,” he said.

An official at the Azerbaijan embassy in Islamabad told Dawn that the beautification project, envisaged within the framework of economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, is the renovation of Islamabad based on the ‘Baku model’.

“The implementation of large projects in Islamabad has been entrusted to Baku Maintenance Service. One of the projects is being implemented on the main 25.5-kilometre [Srinagar] highway, connecting the city centre with the airport. Large-scale renovation works are being carried out on this highway,” the official said.

Talking about Melody Food Park, the official said that the facades of the surrounding buildings were being renovated, and small business facilities are being restored. This food park is being renovated on the pattern of Nizami Street in Baku, he said.

About the Saidpur project, the official said a modern communication system and a sanitary service are being installed to manage water resources in the village. According to the embassy official, the village infrastructure is being completely renovated, but Azerbaijani specialists intend to preserve the local aesthetics.

Meanwhile, the workforce involved in the Islamabad project of the ‘Baku Maintenance Service’ comprises locals. At the same time, the opinion of Pakistani experts plays an important role in the course of the processes, he added.

The official said that local raw materials being used in the construction and restoration works include high-quality marble, travertine and valuable timber suitable for construction. The official said that the improvement and greening of the area around the Jinnah Convention Centre was also part of the beautification work. “Thus, Islamabad, which the Pakistani state established as its new capital in 1960, is entering a modern renaissance phase. These major projects are being implemented thanks to the attention and care of the Azerbaijani state, as well as the efforts of Azerbaijani and Pakistani specialists and businessmen,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2025