ISLAMABAD: Preserving centuries-old Saidpur Village located in the foothills of Margalla is no doubt a remarkable effort to help revive the dying arts of the region and promote inter-civilisation harmony.
The place which has the footprints of various civilizations, including Gandhara, Greek, Buddhist, Mughal, Ashoka and the colonial periods, is now serving as a popular recreational spot for both local and foreign visitors as various restaurants, picnic spots, art gallery and cafes have been setup to entertain the visitors.
Famous for its traditional pottery, the village was the part of ‘Gakhar tribe’ while founded by Sultan Said Khan, son of Sultan Sarand Khan, who was father-in-law of Mughal emperor Jehangir Khan.
It still has a number of remains of historical places like old gardens, Hindu temples, Gurdwaras and old houses, which are a source of attraction for both the locals and the foreigners, an official of CDA told APP.
The project of making the Saidpur Village as a model village was aimed at providing the visitors with the glimpses of multi-cultural heritage flourishing under the green Margallas.
The initiatives taken by CDA, he said, would provide income-generating opportunities to the residents and the artisans of the country through the establishment of arts and crafts shops in the premises of the village.
He said the CDA would extend basic facilities like sewerage, power and others for the residents of the village as well as improving their living conditions.
“We will develop Saidpur village into a model village in the premises of the federal capital,” he said.
“The presence of mosque, Hindu temples and Gurdawara at one place would create inter-religion harmony with the preservation of religious and cultural living buildings,” he observed.
The place would also provide a blend of traditional and continental foods as the project focuses on creating food outlets for the visitors with a variety of items, he added.
He said that renovation work of centuries old Saidpur Village was being completed restoring the buildings to their original look with an emphasis on preserving and enhancing culture. The village will also showcase arts and crafts of the provinces at one place to provide the visitors with a snapshot of the country’s cultural diversity. app