By: Farzana Ali Khan
I have been to almost all the biggest cities of Pakistan and have also got a chance to stay there but by living in the capital city Islamabad for the last 10 years have made me very much attached to the place.
The very first thing that comes in my mind while entering Islamabad is a thought of being in Washington D.C.
Yes, during my visit to the US and especially staying in the Washington D.C is one of my memorable visits to abroad and after coming back to Pakistan I found the same environment, wide roads surrounded by green trees, colorful flowers, hills and mountains here in Islamabad.
Islamabad which is also known as an “abode of Islam” is the Federal Capital City of Pakistan and in the Potohar Plateau in the north-west of the country. The Islamabad Town is also a town in Jammu & Kashmir. It is the Islamabad Capital territory, though the area has historically been a part of the crossroads of the Punjab region and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) the Margalla Pass being a historic gateway to the KP and the Potohar Plateau historically is a part of the Punjab region.
Islamabad city is rich in nature. It is surrounded by the Margalla Hills. It has a humid subtropical climate.
No doubt that years back the federal capital was once famous for its natural beauty, calm and soothing environment. Where there was serenity and order which has now turned into ecological degradation and I get dismayed at the deterioration that has set in.
“I do agree that there are several environmental problems in the federal capital which have piled up during the last two decades but it has been learnt that the authorities concerned are taking steps to bring improvement.
According to a survey, DHA Defence is the leading residential area of Islamabad with nearly 14.2% searches for a better purchase of apartments. The second top residential area is Bahria Town with almost 9.6% favoritism when it comes to real estate apartment hunt
As Islamabad is an expensive city to live in as the prices of most of fruits, vegetable and poultry items increased in Islamabad during the year 2015-2020 still people from across the country prefer to reside in the city.
Inorder to determine Islamabad as the most liveable city in the country, there are a number of factors which need to be assessed. Some of these factors include the availability of basic resources, infrastructure of the city, environment and job opportunities. Great place for family outings, No rickshaws, less noise pollution, the city is filled with greenery having proper sports facilities. The city also hosts numerous international and local events; the building for which Islamabad is popular is the Faisal Mosque that attracts tourists not only from inside Pakistan but also across the globe.
Moreover, the Law and order situation over there is much better than rest of the cities, It has various hiking and picnic spots and some of the best health facilities. It offers great job opportunities as many of the multinational companies have their head offices in the city, being one of the cleanest cities in Pakistan it is scenic and well planned
Recognized as one of the most beautiful cities around the world, the capital of Islamabad is a peaceful city to live in. In contrast to its serene atmosphere, the metropolis serves as the regional hub for educational and economic activities. People from all over the country venture into this city to pursue their educational and career goals
Though, the federal capital, encapsulated by nature, enviable forestry and beds of wild flowers, is rapidly losing its prized greenery. The principle reasons are poor management and ill-planned development on the part of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The continuous degradation of vibrant trees is down to the negligence of the civic body. The number of dead trees is increasing with each passing day as a result of neglect on the part of the environment wing of the civic body.
The trend is resulting in the rapid shrinking of greenbelts, with adverse effects on the environment. Coupled with the population influx and increasing pollution levels, a dire situation is ahead.
Islamabad the beautiful’ is fast losing its beauty due to poor environment management.
With its population having grown during the last two decades, the city is not receiving due attention from its managers. The capital city does not have a proper landfill site and garbage from the urban areas is being dumped in I-12, which is a residential sector. Most of the garbage from the rural areas goes into streams and the city’s green belts are being used for parking and commercial activities
Despite the above mentioned problems and hurdles in the way of sustaining the beauty of the city it has been learnt that a complete ban on all types of unauthorized buildings in Islamabad has been imposed and work is in progress on establishing a permanent landfill site.