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Description
Location: Saidpur Village, Islamabad, Pakistan

Saidpur Village situated on the slopes of Margalla Hills in Islamabad is one of the oldest villages of Pakistan. It dates back more than five hundred years. The work to convert Saidpur into a multicultural and historical tourist attraction was started by Capital Development Authority in 2006 under the supervision of Chairman CDA Mr. Kamran Lashari. Saidpur was successfully converted into a beautiful quaint village in 2008. The government of France provided technical assistance in this work and total cost was Rs. 400 million.

This kind of scene is what a casual observer sees .. driving into the so-called multi-cultural historical tourist attraction to his only destination, which is the village square which houses nothing more than and old temple, a single room of photographs called a museum and a conglomeration of some of the most expensive restaurants in Islamabad.

However, the Reality is that Saidpur sits just atop of Islamabad's most expensive and elite residential area. Where land prices for the palatial homes are on par with New York, London, Paris and the like. The actual village now spans over a few square miles. The residents live in poverty stricken huts, hovels in a state of almost dereliction. Basic amenities like running water, gas and electricity are scarce and tenuous at the best. The utter lack of drainage and sewerage system makes it a hotbed of disease, putrefaction and the stench is often unbearable.

Description
Location: Saidpur Village, Islamabad, Pakistan

Saidpur Village situated on the slopes of Margalla Hills in Islamabad is one of the oldest villages of Pakistan. It dates back more than five hundred years. The work to convert Saidpur into a multicultural and historical tourist attraction was started by Capital Development Authority in 2006 under the supervision of Chairman CDA Mr. Kamran Lashari. Saidpur was successfully converted into a beautiful quaint village in 2008. The government of France provided technical assistance in this work and total cost was Rs. 400 million.

This kind of scene is what a casual observer sees .. driving into the so-called multi-cultural historical tourist attraction to his only destination, which is the village square which houses nothing more than and old temple, a single room of photographs called a museum and a conglomeration of some of the most expensive restaurants in Islamabad.

However, the Reality is that Saidpur sits just atop of Islamabad's most expensive and elite residential area. Where land prices for the palatial homes are on par with New York, London, Paris and the like. The actual village now spans over a few square miles. The residents live in poverty stricken huts, hovels in a state of almost dereliction. Basic amenities like running water, gas and electricity are scarce and tenuous at the best. The utter lack of drainage and sewerage system makes it a hotbed of disease, putrefaction and the stench is often unbearable.