‘It was 1962 and I was 10 years old young at that time. The stories about the construction of an enchanted beautiful capital "Islamabad" were rumoring throughout the country for more than three years since Ayub Khan decided and initiated the shifting of capital in 1959. This shifting of capital from Karachi to Islamabad was really bothering us as my father was a federal employee and all federal offices were soon going to shift a thousand miles away from the Arabian coast to the foothills of Himalayas.’ Mrs. Shaista, our vice principal, told us the her journey of shifting the capital from Karachi to Islamabad in an informal session in school meeting in Islamabad.
‘Karachi was our hometown and my father didn't want to leave the place but he had not the option of leaving the government job too. At last, the day arrived when the federal government arranged for the first train to carry the federal employees and their families from Karachi to new fairyland like capital Islamabad. The train had to drop us at Rawalpindi station as for the time being Rawalpindi was announced as a temporary capital. Changes take time to swallow whether it is pleasant or restrained. That what was happening with us at the time when the capital was shifted from Karachi to Islamabad?’ She continued her story and there was much to hear from her as a first resident of Islamabad.
‘A capital is a city in any independent country or state where the head sits and manage the affairs of state. All public offices and foreign embassies also reside there to look for the interests of the states. Capital city meant to be free from any political or security pressures. It was what Ayub Khan had in mind while switching the capital city. The most populated city of the country Karachi was much complex to serve as the capital of the newly built-in state so many places were kept in the list to be chosen as a new capital. One was outside but near Karachi and another place was suggested adjacent to Rawalpindi. Ayub Khan approved the later one and the new capital was named “Islamabad” in February 1960.
C.A. Doxiadis, a Greek architect and town planner designed the new capital Islamabad. He made the new capital designed into spacious sectors that were stretched at foothills of Himalayas. The government made a new office CDA (capital development authority) which was responsible to manage the development of the city,' she paused.
‘We reached Karachi station around 9 am. A group of drum beaters welcomed us at the station. The train was fully decorated and all passengers where most were Federal government employees, concerned about leaving their settled space in Karachi. They served with tea from the government. The roar of drum beaters was trying to hide the sadness of passengers who were leaving the city of Quaid e Azam with heavy hearts. The train left the station following the semi-deserted coasts, the blue Indus delta, and the mystic music of air in Sindh and entered the land of rivers Punjab by night.
The first train which was carrying federal employees from Karachi to Rawalpindi was welcomed at every main station and at last, we reached Rawalpindi by 11 am the next day. Rawalpindi was a big station with a lot of hustle-bustle but it was looking calmer to us after leaving from Karachi. My father had arranged a house in satellite town Rawalpindi that was temporary capital at that time. My father joined his office and gave me an application for transfer. We towed only necessary luggage with us in the hope to go back to Karachi.
My father was trying to get a transfer back but asides he called my one uncle and a cousin to Rawalpindi to join new offices. A new city was providing job opportunities to all sectors of the country. After a war of 1965, the construction of new capital was near finishing.
My father hired a taxi and took us to visit under the construction of the new capital Islamabad. Our taxi turned from Faizabad towards Islamabad highway. The weather, the aroma, the greenery, the sky, the land everything changed all of sudden. It looked like we entered in any captivated world. All rumors about the beauty of new capital “Islamabad” were proving true. Many people who travel from Rawalpindi to Islamabad still feel the same distinction of captivity in Islamabad. Am I right?’ Her eyes sparkled and she questioned us.
‘Yes, it’s true,’ we answered in short as for the time being we were captivated in her story.
‘Wow...I confess that I fell in love with Islamabad at first sight. Our taxi was running on wide Islamabad highway amid densely populated trees on both sides of the road. Our taxi turned right from zero point Islamabad and then we started to see the glimpses of construction of any city. The construction of government offices was on the go. “This will be my office. My father pointed to a building on the left side that was almost done. There would be a recreational place named Shakarprian,” he pointed towards the right but there was only dense green forest again on that side.
On moving a little further, we observed the construction of the first-ever market of Islamabad “Aabpara market” and the first residential sector “G-6” for federal employees. The construction of national assembly and the president's house was almost done in the most beautiful location of Islamabad amid Margalla hills. The rest of the city was a forest at that time and there were small streams of freshwater passing by the densely green woods.
The Islamabadians slept early and mostly kept engaged in office works without social activities. Soon Islamabad became famous as "Perdesion ka sheher"(the city of expat) as Islamabad turned barren and looked deserted on Eids and public holidays. Its residents rode back to their hometowns to meet their extended families and this continued to happen until Islamabad saw it’s first born and raised a generation. Yes, my father couldn't grab transfer and with time he also didn't want to leave this magnetic city.
I just remember when my father took me to a federal government school for girls in G-6 then we were only 8 girls and two teachers in that school and now there are more than 2000 girls in that school. I was also among the first badge of girls in federal government college for girls. Islamabad has developed to be a peaceful and calm city.
My father bought a plot in an elite sector F-6 on very nominal charges at that time and built a house there. This way Islamabad became hometown for me and my siblings. I was also married here. The journey of capital from Karachi to Islamabad may be complex but the cordial and colorful Karachi continued to serve Pakistan with its trading and cultural activities and peaceful Islamabad just unburned it from security and management responsibilities as a new counterpart. The people of Pakistan loved the newly built capital as it served as a lavish drawing room of their beloved country to show the modern and progressive face of the people of Pakistan.
Karachi was chosen as a capital city by Quaid e Azam because Karachi was nearer to the province of Bengal. The Bengal province where Pakistan didn't have direct land access could easily be reached through the sea from Karachi and could meet the ruling class. The people of Bengal were feeling left alone and this issue was not addressed properly at that time. The countries and independent states keep on changing their capital cities according to their social and security needs. As Mughal kings changed capital cities from Lahore to Fatehpur, Agra and then Delhi. The British in India first manage subcontinent from Calcutta and then shifted the capital to New Delhi in north of Delhi in 1931. The change of capital in Pakistan from Karachi to newly built city Islamabad was held due to many appropriate reasons. The people of Karachi were sad on snatching the title of capital but they too realized the need of new capital and accepted it open heartedly. Now the new capital was being shifted to a thousand miles away. Why? I knew everyone in the country was still thinking the same.
1. Karachi was nearer to Calcutta, India and could easily be invaded from any attack from there. Other main cities of Pakistan also had close land access from India so the new location of the capital was chosen at a safer place amid Himalayan Mountains.
2. Karachi was the biggest city of Pakistan and a hub of all trading activities. It had a mingled population of almost all ethnic groups of Pakistan which put on their pressures on sitting governments. Asides the business and religious communities were so powerful in Karachi that affect government decisions that why Ayub Khan and other leaders strongly recommend a shifting of capital in a new place which is free of political or colonial pressure groups and colonialism.
3. It was also said that the PAK Army had its headquarter GHQ in Rawalpindi and Ayub Khan being the part of forces chose the location for new capital close to Rawalpindi.
4. It was not easy to build an entirely new city that was intended to form on modern architecture and plan as it required planning, time and heavy budget and people also had rumors and questions about the cost of the project and from where it is coming but it was much needed and wise decision that was in time.
Islamabad has is just a beautiful city with its magnetic pull that the people who complain about the building of new city costs Islamabad couldn't utter a word in fascination and fell in love with it when they visited here and Islamabad cradled and welcomed them with affection far of any provincial or ethnically association.
Now after 50 years Islamabad is changed a lot. The trees, the real beauty of Islamabad has cut down in number to build flyovers and underpasses. The new societies have scattered the city from all around but I tell you one thing even today when anyone crosses the Faizabad flyover to enter the city then he spells bound in the beauty of Islamabad and sometimes forgets to turn and pull towards Faisal mosque crossing Centaurus mall. Islamabad offers a lot of attractive tourist attractions, malls and restaurants with a peaceful and secure atmosphere all around. You know my city Islamabad is the second most beautiful capital in the world after London.' she concluded her enchanted story.
‘Karachi was our hometown and my father didn't want to leave the place but he had not the option of leaving the government job too. At last, the day arrived when the federal government arranged for the first train to carry the federal employees and their families from Karachi to new fairyland like capital Islamabad. The train had to drop us at Rawalpindi station as for the time being Rawalpindi was announced as a temporary capital. Changes take time to swallow whether it is pleasant or restrained. That what was happening with us at the time when the capital was shifted from Karachi to Islamabad?’ She continued her story and there was much to hear from her as a first resident of Islamabad.
‘A capital is a city in any independent country or state where the head sits and manage the affairs of state. All public offices and foreign embassies also reside there to look for the interests of the states. Capital city meant to be free from any political or security pressures. It was what Ayub Khan had in mind while switching the capital city. The most populated city of the country Karachi was much complex to serve as the capital of the newly built-in state so many places were kept in the list to be chosen as a new capital. One was outside but near Karachi and another place was suggested adjacent to Rawalpindi. Ayub Khan approved the later one and the new capital was named “Islamabad” in February 1960.
C.A. Doxiadis, a Greek architect and town planner designed the new capital Islamabad. He made the new capital designed into spacious sectors that were stretched at foothills of Himalayas. The government made a new office CDA (capital development authority) which was responsible to manage the development of the city,' she paused.
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| Engineers at Islamabad |
The first train which was carrying federal employees from Karachi to Rawalpindi was welcomed at every main station and at last, we reached Rawalpindi by 11 am the next day. Rawalpindi was a big station with a lot of hustle-bustle but it was looking calmer to us after leaving from Karachi. My father had arranged a house in satellite town Rawalpindi that was temporary capital at that time. My father joined his office and gave me an application for transfer. We towed only necessary luggage with us in the hope to go back to Karachi.
Myths about construction of new capital "Islamabad"
In the coming days, we continue to hear myths about the construction of new capital Islamabad. Some people say that the capital city Islamabad has glass roads. Some thought that all roads are carpeted red that you can walk barefoot on them. Some had complaints that all revenue and especially that come from the” jute trade” from the Bengals province is being dumped to build a luxurious capital near Punjab. This is one misunderstanding among many other which enemy penetrated in Bengali minds successfully.My father was trying to get a transfer back but asides he called my one uncle and a cousin to Rawalpindi to join new offices. A new city was providing job opportunities to all sectors of the country. After a war of 1965, the construction of new capital was near finishing.
FELL IN LOVE WITH CAPTIVATING ISLAMABAD AT FIRST SIGHT
My father hired a taxi and took us to visit under the construction of the new capital Islamabad. Our taxi turned from Faizabad towards Islamabad highway. The weather, the aroma, the greenery, the sky, the land everything changed all of sudden. It looked like we entered in any captivated world. All rumors about the beauty of new capital “Islamabad” were proving true. Many people who travel from Rawalpindi to Islamabad still feel the same distinction of captivity in Islamabad. Am I right?’ Her eyes sparkled and she questioned us.
‘Yes, it’s true,’ we answered in short as for the time being we were captivated in her story.
‘Wow...I confess that I fell in love with Islamabad at first sight. Our taxi was running on wide Islamabad highway amid densely populated trees on both sides of the road. Our taxi turned right from zero point Islamabad and then we started to see the glimpses of construction of any city. The construction of government offices was on the go. “This will be my office. My father pointed to a building on the left side that was almost done. There would be a recreational place named Shakarprian,” he pointed towards the right but there was only dense green forest again on that side.
On moving a little further, we observed the construction of the first-ever market of Islamabad “Aabpara market” and the first residential sector “G-6” for federal employees. The construction of national assembly and the president's house was almost done in the most beautiful location of Islamabad amid Margalla hills. The rest of the city was a forest at that time and there were small streams of freshwater passing by the densely green woods.
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| First mosque in Islamabad G-6 |
14TH August 1967
On 14th August 1967, Islamabad was officially declared as the new capital of Pakistan. The same year, we shifted in the house which was allotted to my father from government right at the back of the Aabpara market in G-6. Underground sewerage, underground electricity, water system, the dumping system all was a new and exciting experience to us. We became the first residents of Islamabad. It was just like living in an isolated island amid forests far from any living being on earth. There were few families in our neighbors and all were from different parts of the country. There were Pathans, Sindhis, Punjabis, and Kashmiris as many people approached Islamabad for jobs. We were having a problem to create a cordial social system in Islamabad at the start. |
| President house Islamabad |
PERDESION KA SHEHER(city of expat)
The Islamabadians slept early and mostly kept engaged in office works without social activities. Soon Islamabad became famous as "Perdesion ka sheher"(the city of expat) as Islamabad turned barren and looked deserted on Eids and public holidays. Its residents rode back to their hometowns to meet their extended families and this continued to happen until Islamabad saw it’s first born and raised a generation. Yes, my father couldn't grab transfer and with time he also didn't want to leave this magnetic city.
I just remember when my father took me to a federal government school for girls in G-6 then we were only 8 girls and two teachers in that school and now there are more than 2000 girls in that school. I was also among the first badge of girls in federal government college for girls. Islamabad has developed to be a peaceful and calm city.
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| Primary school in Islamabad |
My father bought a plot in an elite sector F-6 on very nominal charges at that time and built a house there. This way Islamabad became hometown for me and my siblings. I was also married here. The journey of capital from Karachi to Islamabad may be complex but the cordial and colorful Karachi continued to serve Pakistan with its trading and cultural activities and peaceful Islamabad just unburned it from security and management responsibilities as a new counterpart. The people of Pakistan loved the newly built capital as it served as a lavish drawing room of their beloved country to show the modern and progressive face of the people of Pakistan.
Why there was a need to shift the capital?
There are quite justified reasons to shift the capital in Pakistan:
1. Karachi was nearer to Calcutta, India and could easily be invaded from any attack from there. Other main cities of Pakistan also had close land access from India so the new location of the capital was chosen at a safer place amid Himalayan Mountains.
2. Karachi was the biggest city of Pakistan and a hub of all trading activities. It had a mingled population of almost all ethnic groups of Pakistan which put on their pressures on sitting governments. Asides the business and religious communities were so powerful in Karachi that affect government decisions that why Ayub Khan and other leaders strongly recommend a shifting of capital in a new place which is free of political or colonial pressure groups and colonialism.
3. It was also said that the PAK Army had its headquarter GHQ in Rawalpindi and Ayub Khan being the part of forces chose the location for new capital close to Rawalpindi.
4. It was not easy to build an entirely new city that was intended to form on modern architecture and plan as it required planning, time and heavy budget and people also had rumors and questions about the cost of the project and from where it is coming but it was much needed and wise decision that was in time.
Islamabad has is just a beautiful city with its magnetic pull that the people who complain about the building of new city costs Islamabad couldn't utter a word in fascination and fell in love with it when they visited here and Islamabad cradled and welcomed them with affection far of any provincial or ethnically association.
Now after 50 years Islamabad is changed a lot. The trees, the real beauty of Islamabad has cut down in number to build flyovers and underpasses. The new societies have scattered the city from all around but I tell you one thing even today when anyone crosses the Faizabad flyover to enter the city then he spells bound in the beauty of Islamabad and sometimes forgets to turn and pull towards Faisal mosque crossing Centaurus mall. Islamabad offers a lot of attractive tourist attractions, malls and restaurants with a peaceful and secure atmosphere all around. You know my city Islamabad is the second most beautiful capital in the world after London.' she concluded her enchanted story.