ISLAMABAD: Even in the foggy nights of Islamabad these days, when one can barely see the long end of the roadside, I am compelled to remember a fine man who contributed his maximum to make this city more organised and beautiful. Kamran Lashari aka KL, the ex-chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and renowned civil servant, has done much for this city.
Islamabad has a suburban side to its lifestyle but KL made every effort to change this perception, as well as the lifestyle of the locals. Next time you visit Monal or the Margalla Hills late at night, remember that in pre-KL times, no one used to drive up the hills because of the high probability of being looted. The restaurants and terraces that oversee Islamabad, the structured roads and parks are now among the many features of Islamabad. After the end of KL’s tenure, many of his projects have been either shelved altogether or have witnessed unending delays due to red tape and our tendency of blaming the last office-bearer to hide the incompetence of the current ones.
I believe that KL must be given due credit for the great job he did. It is one man’s determination that can not only change a city but also the lives of close to a million who reside there. Hats off to Lashari and his ilk for making a difference, howsoever small, in our drab existence and showing us that better things are possible.
Saeed Hassan
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2013.
