Pir Sohawa enough ‘reward’ to nature-lovers:CDA

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, March 23, 2009
by Noor Aftab

Islamabad

Breathtaking natural environmental setting of Pir Sohawa provides enough ‘reward’ to nature-loving visitors who nowadays are being seen rushing towards the popular spot after sneaking their way through the steep road in the peak spring season.

“If anyone wants to feel more connected to the earth, one should experience it oneself. Don’t let time and distance scare you when there is a time to take some respite from the worldly affairs amid the natural environmental setting,” said Nasir Janjua, a Lahore-based chartered accountant who visited the place with his family members.

Located at the height of 5,000 feet in the Margalla hills, 13 km from Maraghzar, Pir Sohawa is currently attracting the visitors, mainly due to its soul-touching tranquillity and lush green environs filled with thatched mud houses in the deep valleys of the area.

“Smelling a fresh flower at a trail, listening to the birds singing around and experiencing the wind sweeping the face makes one realise that just taking some time out for a recreation can result in entirely changing joyful moods,” said Amjad Iqbal, who reached the spot riding a motorbike.

Leisure walk down pleasant serpentine jungle paths, birds calls and variety of dishes at the couple of restaurants along the road may have the potential to make one forget every other thing except the scenic view and serene natural environment, at least for the time being.

“Nature nurtures the mind with its silence, the heart with its beauty, the body with relaxed calmness and the soul with its pureness of spirit. I walk in the woods to relax, to renew and to be inspired. That’s why I love visiting this place,” said Rao Imtiaz, a student of horticulture at the local university.

Wearing comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes, groups of joy riders can be seen scaling upwards even at the late evening to enjoy their meals with live music and desi traditional touch at a restaurant constructed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the recent past.

“Open airy atmosphere and spacious seating arrangements at the restaurants make it a decent place to dine with family members as well. Having been there on several occasions, I always found this place a best one to enjoy meals especially at the evening time,” said Zulfiqar Kiyani, a script writer at web based magazine.

Some of the visitors complained that they found streetlights switched off while driving on the hilly road in the evening time that made them take extreme care to reach the destination.

There is also a need to create awareness among the visitors about the importance of keeping the area neat and clean because the tracks and trails are being polluted with waste material ranging from empty beverage bottles to chips wrappers, plastic bags and cigarette butts.

According to some insiders at CDA, many investors have approached the authority to get permission for construction of their commercial food outlets at Pir Sohawa. But the authorities must keep it in mind that the law of land does not permit either to use construction material or damage the natural character of the area in any way.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=168633