Islamabad Revisited: Ups and Downs

- Govinda Neupane

Islamabad is the fast changing city in Pakistan. The city has not only gone through a sea change in its physical appearance, but its residents and visitors have also experienced several economic, political and psychological processes, which impacted on their attitude and behaviors.

Starting with its physical change, the road network has been vastly improved in comparison to a few years back. Now, the double roads glitter in asphalt all over Islamabad. It seems that roads are constructed in a way that envies all other cities in the region. The entire city has been planned well and is being maintained nicely with clean roads, green surroundings and traffic infrastructures that provide enough reasons to feel proud to all Pakistanis The negative side of this development is that the greenery has been decreased significantly and it is not the same lavishly green Islamabad as it was a few years ago. The ever expanding communication facilities that include telephone, mobile phone network and internet connectivity have made Islamabad a better place to live in. The competition among the companies involved in communication services has greatly improved the quality of such services. A number of new high rise buildings in the Blue Area have given Islamabad a majestic look. There are plenty of luxury hotels such as Islamabad Serena and comfortable B&Bs such as New Cape Grace at sector F-6/1 (please visit: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293960-c2-Islamabad-Hotels.html). The visitors could get value for their money in such abodes. This way, Islamabad has become a more comfortable place to live in, a favorite location to travel to and a nice city to talk about if there is only one consideration and that is its physical infrastructure.

This beautiful city has now been littered with several security check points. There are hundreds of such posts at the middle of the roads pointing guns towards you and taking your pictures beside stopping your car, checking thoroughly and wasting your more valuable time in answering stupid questions. The security agencies and personnel are also under stress and most of the times behave in a rude manner, not matching to their more sober general character in normal situations. Either there is blast somewhere in Pakistan any day of the month or there is such rumor at least giving sleepless nights to Islamabad residents and visitors. Barring a few dreaded acts of terror attacks, Islamabad is not that much infected with terror activities; still people are surviving under the threat of terror. This psychological phenomenon could be seen in the behaviors of the people. This could also be seen in the market places, restaurants and private homes. Everywhere, there are guards to search you with a metal detector before you are allowed in and the eyes of the guards and the persons inside are all the time watchful and you may feel being a suspected person. This gives you sour feeling. While you talk a stranger, he or she may not be that much willing to respond. The areas like Jinnah Super and Blue Area, where you could see almost every minute a foreigner in the past, are now deserted of such faces. A few, that too, foreigners from other Asian countries could be seen there shopping. The westerners are an endangered species there. They, perhaps, are only a few in numbers and spend their time inside the buildings surrounded by high compound walls equal to the height of two or three stories. The warmth in the behaviors of the local residents also has diminished. Unavoidable suspicion is the prime culprit.

The facilities are functioning well with a deference of the type of service receivers, their numbers and the quality of services. We could take the example of the SHIFA International Hospital in sector I-8. The private enterprise that caters modern health services including diagnostics and remedies is vastly expanded by adding new infrastructure and facilities. Still, it is too crowded. In the past, the hospital was mostly attracting foreigners, but now it is simply full of Pakistanis. The collective attitudinal aspect of the facility also has changed accordingly. The behavior of the frontline hospital staff is far from friendly. They have become part of the large bureaucracy and they are no more customers welcoming. Moreover, hanging on telephones, enjoying on their mobiles for long time and making service receivers waiting has become a proud act of our frontline personnel in South Asia and that has infected to this hospital too. The professionals also have started to go by our South Asian value of maintaining hierarchy such as if a powerful person or a relative comes, he or she gets first attention. The queue is a queue and that queue could wait indefinitely. The people recollect that this was not the practice in the past in SHIFA. When the prestigious SHIFA is in such condition, it is quite normal to understand how other facilities are functioning.

The people have become more frustrated seeing the acts of their politicians. The same fellows, who were discarded long time ago, are ruling again now. In the past, the people used to call Mr. Zardari as "Mr. Ten Percent" and now they call him "Mr. Cent Percent." The seriously failed act of politics is that the hope has not been generated among the people. The fights are never ending. The fights among politicians and political parties and the fight between political leadership and military establishment are ongoing sagas in Pakistan. The new entrant, the court system also has started to exercise the legislative as well as executive power. It sounds that the lawyers and their Lords are positioning themselves as the new masters of Pakistan. Hence, the system issues are paralyzing the state system and the people are in great difficulties. But, in this very difficult circumstance too, the Pakistani people are working hard as in the past.

If there is not much change, that is the crowd in Islamabad airport assembled to receive or send off their friends or relatives. They invade the outer side of the terminal building making it nearly impossible to go inside or come outside for the passengers. There was total mess in the past; there is total mess today too. No authority listens; no security smells the threat and no change is felt necessary. While checking in, there is another strange act called anti-narcotic search/check. They throw your belongings all over in the process of search. This sounds an act of humiliation rather than searching anything. They, perhaps, think that every visitor is a smuggler of narcotics and give him or her message that they are not welcome next time. This is one area where the authorities should place attention to ensure the search process is completed without any harassment to the travelers.

In brief, in terms of building new facilities, Islamabad has done a good job. If they will preserve the wonderful greenery, that would be their commendable contribution. The terror activities have made the lives of people very difficult. While fighting against terror, the authorities should devise mechanisms that build partnerships with the people and create environment where people also could contribute whatever way they can. The service delivery mechanism could be much better if some skills are imparted and discipline in the workplace is brought back. The hospitality infrastructure could function well if the bureaucracy acts positively. Regarding improving political environment in Pakistan, it is the most complicated issue and it would not be wise to pass superficial recommendations. The change in this area should come from within.

October 25, 2009