HEC Training trip to Nathiagali

(Shaikh Muhammad Ali)

(Wikipedia map of Nathiagali)

The hackneyed question of whether Pakistans creation was right or wrong is an
exercise in futility because Pakistan is fait accompli, regardless of what ones
conclusions are about it. What is far more important is to understand the historical
process which led to the creation of a country envisaged as a homeland for the Muslims
of the Indian subcontinent. This historical process has its roots partly in the
consciousness of the upper class as well as the rising Indian Muslim bourgeoisie and
salaried classes --- which feared exclusion from political power at the hands of the three
times more numerous Hindus in the inevitable post-British democratic India.
The idea of Muslim nationalism was born thus and brought up in the Aligarh Muslim
University. It was this idea that lead to the formation of the All India Muslim League in
1906 and the Muslim demand for separate electorates soon thereafter1.
But why am I quoting the above paragraph in the first place. This is NOT History 101
class. Yes, I did get carried away since I just finished reading this fabulous article on the
above subject.
Now let me draw your attention to the article which I am expected to write here. Yes, it
is about a yearly training trip which my institution i.e. HEC organizes at our official
retreat @ Khanaspur, Ayubia. This training, I attended between 2009 2013 but could
1
Exclusion in post 1947 Pakistan and the ideology of Muslim Nationalism --- Yasser Latif Hamdani
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not b/w 2014 15 since I had fallen sick with my reflux related issues. This was the
series of the last lectures that was arranged for two days at the Elites Hotel in Nathiagali
and I tell you what an amazing place it is.
This is what Wikipedia says about this hilly resort:

Nathia Gali or Nathiagali (Pashto: , Urdu: ) is a mountain resort town or hill station
in Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is a part of the Galyat range, where
several hill-stations are situated, closely connected to each other, and with their names mostly
ending in 'Gali'. Nathiagali is known for its scenic beauty, hiking tracks and pleasant weather,
which is much cooler than the rest of the Galyat due to it being at a greater altitude. It is
situated 34 kilometers at one hour's drive away from both Murree and Abbottabad, lying
midway between these two places. The drive time from Islamabad is usually about two hours,
unless there is a lot of traffic.

History
During British rule Nathia Gali, then part of Abbottabad tehsil of Hazara District, served as the
summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner of the (then) Peshawar division of the Punjab.
The town along with Dunga Gali constituted a notified area under the Punjab Municipalities Act,
1891. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 3,000 chiefly derived from a house tax, whilst expenditure
was Rs. 1,900.

Climate
The weather of Nathiagali remains cool, pleasant and foggy in summers (1 May to 31 August).
During the monsoon season (1 July to 16 September), rain is expected almost every day. Cold
winds start to chill the weather in autumn. Winters (1 November to 28 February) are very cold
and chilly. In December and January, heavy snowfall occurs here. The weather remains cold in
spring. Here most comfortable weather is the summer season.

Transportation
The town is connected to Abbottabad and Murree by Nathiagali road. Public transport runs daily
from Abbottabad and Rawalpindi to Nathiagali.

In December and January, heavy snowfall occurs in this area and the road leading to Nathiagali
is blocked due to heavy snow.

Communication
Nathiagali is covered by all GSM telephone operators. Land line phone service is also available
here.

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Accommodation
Some Hotels, Rest houses and Cottages equipped with most facilities are available here for the
tourists. During summers (May to August) their rates become high.

A small market also exists here where all the basic necessities of life are available for the people.

Tourism
Nathiagali town also serves as the administrative center of Nathiagali Union Council. It is today
located in what is the Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At 2,500 m (8,200 ft.), it is a
popular tourist resort in the summer months. It is forested with pine, cedar, oak walnut and also
oak and maple trees.

During the summer, Nathiagali is relatively popular amongst tourists, but due to its limited area
and availability of property, it is not thronged by as many people as the hill-station Murree,
which is only an hour away, even though it has more to offer in terms of recreation. Nathiagali is
known for a beautiful trek that leads to Thandiani that passes through Dagri naka.

We leave home on 27th June 2013 around 3:15 p.m. and met the family of Rizwan
Ahmad Khan (ex-Project Director, HEC) @ the 3rd avenue intersection. We go all the
way towards the Murree hills and take a break at Charra pani for Chai, pakoray around
5:00 p.m. We continue to move on till we reach Elites Hotel, Nathiagali around 6:50 p.m.

(A click prior to reaching Nathiagali)

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I usually avoid travelling in the mountains after Maghreb since there are no street lights
in the hilly areas in northern parts of Pakistan and it is usually not safe to travel after
dark in such areas which are infested with wild animals

(The Elites hotel for the not so elite)

As soon as we land in our designated rooms, we offered our Maghreb prayers in our
chalet type cottages and go up for dinner around 7:50 p.m. where most of the HEC
colleagues had gathered most of whom who had already reached here either in their
personal or official cars. This training is more like a retreat for us whereby BPS 19 and
above grade or equivalent officers like us are brought along with our families, given
training while our families intermingle with each other and renew their familial ties.
Dinner was served by 9:00 p.m. sharp which all of us thoroughly enjoyed and some of
us ultimately ended up playing pool till 11:30 p.m. while chit chatting in the early parts of
the night.
The next morning we got up early (as usual) and did our breakfast around 7:30 a.m.
since we had to get ready for the training. Our families would usually sleep till late and
one after the other they would bee line to the main dining hall usually by 10:00 a.m. or
so for their breakfast.
While I was up early, I had no belter work to do but to go out and take a stroll and check
out my surroundings and ended up shooting a few clicks.

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 (Views from our cottage window)

(Another view from the balcony)

The lecture series started at 9:15 a.m. and our first speaker was Dr. Nizamuddin, the
then Vice Chancellor of University of Gujrat who gave us an interesting presentation on
his university. The presentation was followed by an interactive session and was
culminated by midafternoon and we broke away for the Juma prayers at a local
mosque.

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Our cottage had two rooms and a sitting room. The other bedroom was shared by
Project Director Jehanzeb Khans family and since we were already family friends thus
the kids and our belter halves enjoyed their time together while Jehanzeb and I were
mostly busy with the trainings.

(The sitting room of our cottage)

(A sneak view of our room)

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Farman Ullah Anjum (Director General, HEC) was our next speaker who happens to be
another happy go lucky person and a jewel of a friend; actually more of a family friend.
He spoke on Human Resource Management and delivered an inspirational lecture on
the subject while his presentation ended by 5:00 p.m. or so.
The nights come sooner in the woods and after relaxing with the family in the vicinity of
the hotel, we ended up having yet another banquet by 9:00 p.m. sharp. Prior to dinner,
most of the families intermingled at the cosmic and beautiful lawns of the Hotel and
enjoyed their time away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

(A classic click at the back of the hotel)

The next morning I was up early as always and after having breakfast along with the
other colleagues, we attended Dr. Mukhtars (The then Executive Director) lecture and
then Dr. Abdullahs lecture on leadership and the entire session ended around 1:30 p.m.
Today being a Saturday, and since the training sessions had ended; we enjoyed the
company of our families and had a lavish lunch at the dining hall.
After dining, we came back to our rooms and reinvigorated for a while and then visited
the Lalazar zoo around 4:05 p.m. with Awais, Waseem, Jehanzeb, Rizwan and Rana
Shafiq; all officers, colleagues and family friends that we usually hang out with during
such training sessions.

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 (With my little princess, Ayesha)
We also got a chance to have a brisk walk on the famous Nathiagali to Dungagali
pipeline trek and enjoyed the scenery around us.

(The pipeline walk)

We enjoyed our sojourn in the company of our colleagues between 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. while the ladies and the kids enjoyed their time @ the little Nathiagali bazaar.

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We all came back exhausted at the hotel, went to our rooms to relax for a while then
came back up to the dining area for a sumptuous dinner around 9:00 p.m. which was
followed by a song and dance by Dr. Iftikhar who entertained us with his wonderful
musical magic. I believe we enjoyed the evening as late as 12:30 a.m. and then hurried
back to our rooms to retire.
On Sunday 30th June 2013, I rise early and head to the balcony. The earliest signs of
daybreak still linger in the air; the sun is not yet out. For miles around, all I could see are
sporadic flocks of cattle doting the hilly treks. The family got up around 7:30 a.m. and
then we had a lavish breakfast around 9:00 a.m. We then went out in the neighborhood
for a walk and enjoyed our little stroll in the vicinity.

(My older one Adil checking out his environs)

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 (Ayesha in a pensive mood)

(Mohsin watching his Darwinian relatives)

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Sabeen (my Wifey) had already packed our belongings and as soon as we got back to
our rooms, we dumped our luggage in the car and ultimately bade our good byes to the
colleagues who were all leaving slowly and gradually for Islamabad, the beautiful. We
left the Elites hotel by 11:00 a.m. and stopped for Zuhr prayers around Barian.

(This shot was taken right after we passed Ayubia)

We had lunch at Tret around 3:00 p.m. while reaching home with wonderful memoirs of
yet another trip in the Rockies by 4:30 p.m. while covering a total distance of around
186 kms during this trip.
Tail piece:
I have noticed that when you are in the woods and if you are courageous enough, you
can step out into the darkness and witness the beauty of the forests as the moonlight
hits the tree tops and the surface of the rocks providing a magnificent enchantment.
And then you are bound to sing, what a wonderful world

Shaikh Muhammad Ali

The Wandering Dervish
E-mail: dushkashaikh@gmail.com
Cell: +00-92-321-5072996
Tuesday, 7th Rajab, 1438 Hijra
4th April, 2017, 5:13 p.m. (PST)

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