Islamabad ‘the second most beautiful capital’, boasts CDA
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ISLAMABAD: For the last a few days, the citizens have felt a pleasant surprise by looking at a billboard which declares Islamabad as the second most beautiful capital of the world.
However, the first question which they asked was about the criteria adopted to rank the cities.
Naeem Ahmed, a resident of Islamabad, said he was driving on the Islamabad Highway along with his family when he saw the board at I-8 Chowk.
A picture of the Zero Point Interchange is printed on the billboard along with the portrait of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“My wife said if Islamabad is really the second most beautiful city of the world, we should feel proud of it,” Mr Naeem said.
“Once I used to hear ‘Islamabad the beautiful’ but I did not know our city is so beautiful that it can be ranked second in the world,” he said.
Mohammad Ali, a representative of the company which owned the board, said they often get advertisements to display on the board but under the agreement with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the civic agency can also use it.
“The CDA placed the current advertisement on the board on the occasion of initiating work on the widening of Islamabad Highway. We have nothing to do with the advertisement,” he said.
Meanwhile, a number of websites have carried the news about the top 10 most beautiful capitals of the world.
According to one of the websites, London is the most beautiful capital of the world while Islamabad is the second. Berlin is on the third number followed by Washington, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Budapest, Ottawa and Moscow.
An official of the directorate of municipal administration in the CDA, who was not authorised to speak on record, said when the advertisement was being placed, he also thought about the criteria for the ranking of the beautiful capitals.
“I asked about it and then came to know that things which were kept in mind while ranking the cities included green areas, population density, planning, infrastructure and mountain views,” he said.
“Islamabad is no doubt one of the most beautiful and planned cities and that is why it has been ranked as the second most beautiful capital,” he said.
Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2015
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Comments (65) Closed
Jul 06, 2015 09:01am
that great to hear..!! need to see this once in my lifetime..!!
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Jul 06, 2015 09:04am
Congratulations
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Jul 06, 2015 09:05am
eh..What's Nawaz Sharif's role in that?
What his Govt. did to make the city beautiful? any justification of his photo?
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Jul 06, 2015 09:14am
I think Islamabad is the most beautiful and least polluted capital in the world.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:15am
About two decades or so ago while traveling in a bus from Lahore to Rawalpindi, a fellow passenger revealed that the Jhelum bridge was the longest bridge in Asia. I shook my head in affirmative without questioning him because I new that his entire universe stretches from Jhelum to Lahore. This time again, I am not going to question the claim of CDA's municipal administration official.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:15am
About two decades or so ago while traveling in a bus from Lahore to Rawalpindi, a fellow passenger revealed that the Jhelum bridge was the longest bridge in Asia. I shook my head in affirmative without questioning him because I new that his entire universe stretches from Jhelum to Lahore. This time again, I am not going to question the claim of CDA's municipal administration official.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:23am
It's wonderful news but, it would have been better to publish which international agency done this rating - because I have seen Auckland of New Zealand Capital and I have never seen a beautiful city in my life before, the city is blended with nature and modernity...!! and such beautiful city is not in the list and if I go to an Aucklander and call Islamabad is the second most beautiful city and yours not even in the list - they will laugh at me, so please provide the source link so that we can tell them with proof - because patting on our own shoulder won't lead us to any place...!!
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Jul 06, 2015 09:32am
but what is the criteria and where is the official data related to that claim...
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Jul 06, 2015 09:39am
Is there a source for this ranking ?
Isloo is definetly one of the greenest capitals of the world, but I would like to see the rest of the criteria and methodology.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:40am
Yes. Ayub was a dictator, but he did many good things for the country. He built big dams, he introduced TV, brought digital system, he made the most serious attempt to get Kashmir, and he gave us a beautiful Capital. We should not be so narrow hearted to mention his name while talking of these beautiful things.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:47am
I Googled the information and every website lists Islamabad as the second most beautiful capital in the world. Amazing achievement considering all things.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:51am
No doubt Islamabad is one of the most beautiful Capital of the world.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:51am
http://www.onlinenewspoint.com/top-10-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
http://www.abcnewspoint.com/top-ten-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
http://www.toptenfindings.com/top-10-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
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Jul 06, 2015 09:53am
One thing that you did not mansion is that the Islamabad is world 3rd Master planned Capital of the World. Planning and Management of Islamabad is better than Washington and Paris which are at number 4 and 5 respectively.
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Jul 06, 2015 09:59am
Here is the website of this news. Islamabad is at 2nd position. Proud of you my City My land Islamabad.
http://www.toptenfindings.com/top-10-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
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Jul 06, 2015 10:04am
@Thinker ..Nawaz Sharif's metro has ruined Islamabad's beauty..it is like an ugly tattoo on a beautiful face!! Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif may have a lot if money but they have very tacky tastes. Jinnah Avenue us ruined by the cheap ugly Metro monstrosity smack in the middle of the Jinnah Avenue blocking the majestic views of the Margalla hills. I must say that the Sharif's have vandalised Islamabad!!
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Jul 06, 2015 10:11am
Islamabad is indeed a beautiful city but the complete neglect on behalf of it's citizens is taking it's toll. We keep blaming CDA for not doing enough but I confess that the people of Pakistan have no civic sense whatsoever.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:14am
@Ali that's because Auckland is not the Capital of New Zealand - Wellington is.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:15am
Anyone can make a website and claim whatever they like. We Pakistanis are always made fools. I expected dawn news to have a thorough investigation but it has created doubt that this may be true.
Love what Qadar Khan has said.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:25am
Self Claims wont make any sense. there is no doubt Islamabad is one of the beautiful capital. but claiming world second beautiful capital mean we are going extreme. like claiming Pakistan is most peaceful country in the world
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Jul 06, 2015 10:28am
Those who are questioning about the criteria and ranking agencies can take help from Prof.Google.
Proud to hear this. Indeed Islamabad is the best capital of the world as I have been to 6/10 of these capitals.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:29am
Construction of Islamabad cost Pakistan half the country and today eating up major portion of revenue.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:29am
Thanks to all Pakistani leaders who did not develop Islamabad. Even today it is very backward in terms of development.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:38am
Well if somebody really deserves appreciation for this its obviously not Nawaz Sharif...It has to be its founder General Ayub Khan
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Jul 06, 2015 10:46am
I couldn't believe this but when I searched it is actually true, Islamabad is listed as the 2nd most beautiful capital of the world !!!!
Here is the link to 5 sites that list Islamabad as the 2nd most beautiful capital in the world. Not sure if Dawn will allow to post the link:
www.abcnewspoint.com/top-ten-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
www.toptenfindings.com/top-10-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/
www.thetoptens.com/best-capital-cities/ (lists Islamabad as # 1)
http://koolwallpapers.com/2015/05/14/5-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world2015/
www.dailymotion.com/
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Jul 06, 2015 10:50am
I don't think any politician deserves any credit of development of the Pakistani capital . The person who really deserve lots of credit for lots of things in Pakistan progress besides capital is president M.Ayoub Khan. He was also honest and brave unlike today's politicians.
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Jul 06, 2015 10:51am
@Qadar Khan Please do some search before rejecting the report...
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Jul 06, 2015 10:54am
I declare myself as Mr World.....
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Jul 06, 2015 11:10am
I am very proud today to be Pakistani.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:13am
This should be enough to attract tourists around the world to this beautiful country and earn billions in FOREX , infact Pakistanis can be happy and prosperous if we develop tourism to its fullest potential , first thing for that to happen is to bring peace and develop infrastructure.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:15am
As an Indian , I have accumulated enough money to spend at least an year in a foreign country like Pakistan as a tourist and spend quality time here, but due to Kashmir issue,internal violence and anti-India stand , Pakistan is losing millions of potential tourists from India and income for locals .
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Jul 06, 2015 11:17am
Wrong, As a kashmiri , Muzaffarabad is the most beautiful city in the whole wide world.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:26am
Nice.. Congrats.. Sadly India doesn't have any clean city.. While mumbai n delhi r bigger and more cosmopolitan versions of karachi n lahore, there's no islamabad equivalent in India.. Even chennai, bangalore are quite dirty.. Kolkata is the worst..
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Jul 06, 2015 11:31am
As the song goes, "If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad..."
And it does not have to be true either.
It is no doubt a feel good scheme to make people feel better about their city/country and govt. regardless of the absurdity of the claim.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:41am
When assessment is done by own people it lacks validity!
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Jul 06, 2015 11:45am
@haider rehman , really ? Well, May be so for you if you didn't see other places in the world and may be never travelled out side of your beautiful muzafferabad. I hope you get a chance to travel the world soon.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:52am
Couldn't be more true. I especially enjoy French Colony in F-7 and Afghan Abadi in I-11
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Jul 06, 2015 11:54am
I am a Pakistani and I would love this to be true. Listing Pakistan monument and Faisal Mosque doesn't make a capital second most beautiful. The potholes, the slums, the dirt, the mud. The listing is an "Axact" type of listing
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Jul 06, 2015 11:56am
“I asked about it and then came to know that things which were kept in mind while ranking the cities included green areas, population density, planning, infrastructure and mountain views,” he said.
If this criteria has been used how come London is most beautiful with no mountains around?
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Jul 06, 2015 11:59am
It is certainly one of the greenest and cleanest city but it is fast losing its green characteristic. Need to keep the wide green belts as it is ,no need for very wide roads. If good quality buses are run in the city, along with development of pedestrian areas and cycling tracks, there might be less requirement of widening of roads, which is making Islamabad look a concrete jungle
Also that hoarding and scores of them on the blue area is making Islamabad look bad. Remove hoarding and make the city visually less cluttered....and plant big shady local trees and not decorative shrubs. Decoration is destruction..simplicity is sophistication.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:02pm
Hahaahahaha is this a joke?
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Jul 06, 2015 12:05pm
That hoarding actually makes Islamabad looks uglier...remove this and scores of other hoardings and Islamabad will look more beautiful and clutter free. These hoardings blocks the view and is visually very unpleasant to look at.
And yes plant more big, shady, trees with big canopy. No need for decorative shrubs, small plants. Big trees are the main source of rains, less noise and air pollution and abode for birds.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:07pm
Islamabad may be the most beautiful city in Sout Asia - but I think Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur/ Putra Jaya are the most beautiful cities in the world. Now lets us make the rest of Pakistan beautiful.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:12pm
@Sana I agree 100%. All was needed are public buses running between the two cities...just one hundred buses were enough. Mostly the money spend was on elevated tracks and the separate bus track and the bus stations.
Old simple buildings like the president house, the parliament, secretariat buildings with minimalistic and modern architecture looks much better. Now we mostly see garish and hideous buildings coming up.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:14pm
@Aatif Type Islamabad, and open it on Google images, you'll know.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:18pm
Just checked the rating site and that is how it describes Islamabad:
"Islamabad, one of the most beautiful capitals of the world, famous for its beauty, decor, fascination, attractiveness and the one regarded fully. Islamabad being the glorious one could be competed over the entire cities of the world. It is highly developed and the developments can been seen in every angle of the city, moreover it is also included in the list of largest cities in the world.. The most beautiful capital of the world is the one on which entire Pakistan feel proud and very well pleased. People thought to visit Islamabad for Islamabad being too striking, fine-looking and stunning."
I think the language alone is giving it away. Islamabad is a charming small city the likes of that can be found all around the world.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:25pm
When the CDA will learn that a 5 lane each side, 10 lane in total highway doesn't makes the city beautiful. On the contrary a wider green belt and not so wide road looks better. The 10 lane highway will look like a maidan, an open field, will look uglier. Six lanes was more than enough, hope they have planned wide green belt with lots of big trees around the highway.
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Jul 06, 2015 12:50pm
Congratulations !!! Now I think government should also focus towards rest of the country and its people.. May be ask competent people to make policies..
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Jul 06, 2015 01:20pm
O my dear Omar Khan, as they say seeing is believing, I have been living in Islamabad since 1980, and I have seen 7 out of the 10 capitals listed in the article. Therefore, to me the choice of not to google seems justified, what do you think? By the way, I will encourage all of you to read http://www.techjuice.pk/debunking-the-myth-of-sexiest-men-and-worlds-most-beautiful-capital-city-never-trust-the-social-media/. I will also encourage all of you to do research, not just google search. Putting a fact right does not affect your patriotism. I love my city Islamabad, irrespective of its ranking.
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Jul 06, 2015 01:21pm
@Rohit Sharma Thanks to Almighty we are having the most serene and tranquil place as our capital. and thanks to PM for not spoiling its ever-green beauty. you should have a visit once at least. A hearty welcome. stay blessed :')
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Jul 06, 2015 01:26pm
Self claimed 2nd best. I have been to Islamabad and its now where 2nd best of even in the top 10. Nawaz Sharif stop fooling people.
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Jul 06, 2015 01:48pm
I think Washington DC is the most beautiful capital in the world! I do agree that Islamabad is also one of the most beautiful capitals in the world but not really No.2 because the Canadian capital Ottawa and New Zealand capital Auckland are way more beautiful.
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Jul 06, 2015 01:53pm
@Original ZAK ...............Yes it is correct that Islamabad stands on number 2 position in terms of Most beautiful capital cities.............Congratulations to the City Mayor/Council/State Govt and Local Citizens...................
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Jul 06, 2015 02:22pm
Pakistani people! Never far behind in making staggering comparisons. We like to think of ourselves as humble, down to earth folks with a big heart yet never miss an opportunity to brag and boast. Like a mother who just wont accept that her child is nalaik and useless. An entire nation suffering from Dementia.
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Jul 06, 2015 03:02pm
PART-3 (of my comment)
I myself belong from Islamabad, and I admit it is beautiful. But more than the landscape, it is the people who make a place beautiful. Next time when you're littering on the roadside or are pasting a flyer on a street sign, do think about Islamabad, the Beautiful.
Ps. Quit wasting time, lets "actually" become better and more beautiful.
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Jul 06, 2015 03:59pm
Everyone check if this city is beautiful or not. Though beauty is a relative thing but definitely the city is clean and green. Check the link below.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=398050&page=53
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Jul 06, 2015 04:23pm
Who are we kidding? Please don't make us a laughing stock, there is no way Islamabad can be compared with Paris, London, Rome, Budapest, Prague, Madrid, Vienna, Washington, Sydney, Tokyo, Beirut, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and others, all of which I have visited.
But, it is our capital, so for us it is the best city in the world.
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Jul 06, 2015 04:41pm
Islamabad the second most beautiful capital in the world? This must be a joke. Just tell me a single commercial market in ISB which can be termed beautiful and pleases your eyes! Not a single! Except for a few E and F-Sectors and recreational areas, that even cannot match the wealthier areas and recreational areas of most European capitals, what does ISB have ???
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Jul 06, 2015 04:54pm
How about New Delhi?
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Jul 06, 2015 05:21pm
I read this news few weeks ago on CNN website which list down the most beautiful capitals in the world and it is correct that Islamabad was on top 5.
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Jul 06, 2015 11:44pm
My vote is for Washington, DC as the most beautiful capital I have been to. The kind of greenery and natural beauty I have never seen in my life. Fantastic public transport, great monuments and museums. Amazing entertainment. Very International.
Prague is another capital in my view which is very beautiful and would make my list.
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Jul 07, 2015 01:51am
I recently had the opportunity to travel Europe. Places like Amsterdam, hamburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Zurich and northern finland are one of the most beautiful peaceful & cleaner places i have seen on Earth. Islamabad and london do not stand a chance. Isloo used to look beautiful due to greenery before housing developments, cutting trees but is still the cleaner & beautiful only in Asia.
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Jul 07, 2015 02:06am
It can be first if I-9, I-10, G7, G8, G9, G10 sectors can be upgraded like other sectors.
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Jul 07, 2015 04:02am
This is simply not true. You haven't seen any of the other capitals. This is self-declared.
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Jul 07, 2015 05:30am
@haider rehman Muzzafarabad is not a capital of any independent country recognised by UN. It is the capital of a disputed territory. At best, it can be compared with Abbottabad, Muree, Waziristan, Kotli Sattian, Bhimber,....
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