Unsung heroes

Part - XXXI
Random thoughts
In past columns I wrote about my local colleagues and our foreign friends and suppliers who, all together, made our success possible. Now I would like to tell you about the patriotic civil contractors who turned a deserted valley into an amazing feat of technology with luscious gardens and greenery.
I already wrote that Gen Zahid Ali Akbar Khan and other engineers did the civil works. It was a good decision. He, Brig Anis, Brig Sajawal Khan and Brig Saeed Baig were all highly motivated and they put heart and soul into their work. They knew what the ultimate goal was and that it would enable the country to walk with its head held high. By their hard work they were able to complete the buildings and the infrastructure before time. That would not have been possible without the contractors involved who, by their commitment and honesty, helped in achieving our goals – all heroes in their own rights.
Abdul Hakim was well-known contractor from Naushera. Gen Zahid knew Hakim personally. He had worked on many important projects. One which stands above all others was our main guesthouse – a fine design of beautiful proportions – greatly admired by both Gen Zia and Ghulam Ishaq Khan. It consisted of a 30-foot high, pillar-less main hall large enough to host dinners for at least 60 guests. On the first floor, looking down on the main hall were eight guestrooms, two suites and a drawing room. There were two squash courts, two tennis courts, a swimming pool and a large, landscaped garden. Quite a few foreign rulers and dignitaries visited here and had lunch with us.
Haji Rafiq was another excellent contractor. In the early days of our work, I used to take my wife and daughters there on some weekends. The children would happily run around in the open spaces and admire and play under the mango trees. Haji Sahib knew them well and would always bring excellent, crispy jalebis for them. Haji Sahib now leads a retired life but still keeps in touch, visits me quite often and brings us gifts from Abbottabad.
Another construction company belonging to my dear friend Raja Arshad Mahmood did a lot of work. He is still active in construction but was forbidden from doing any more work and was also severely pressurised into ‘revealing’ the many properties I was supposed to have. My colleagues and I would have considered it a sin to commit any wrongdoing. Had money been my main motive, I could have gone to a number of other countries and earned millions of dollars with my knowledge and expertise. Beside construction work, Raja Arshad now spends time fish farming.
Another company was owned by the late Tariq Khan Niazi, a tall, well-built, handsome man. Not only did he undertake many projects, he also helped me in many of the social projects in which I was involved. He constructed the Technical Institute in Mianwali, which now has about 1,500 students studying for Associate Engineer degrees, often topping in Punjab Technical Board Exams. Yousuf Khan, the principal, a competent educationist, runs the institute well. For as long as this institute exists, Tariq Khan Niazi’s name will be immortal. His son now looks after the business.
The late Mahmoodul Haq Alvi too ran a company. He was a great person and the company did a lot of work for us. He also ran a chain of welfare hospitals and schools throughout the country and left a corpus of about Rs2 billion to take care of expenses. All these activities are now looked after by his graceful, talented daughter together with my dear friend of long standing, Brig Maqsoodul Hassan. The Cadet College near Khanna Pul run by them is a treat to see.
Two companies played an important role. One belonged to Dr Iqbal Wahla in Lahore and the other was based in Islamabad. Engineers Qamar Alvi and Khizer Hayat prepared all the structural drawings and residential colony. Mr Faheem and Mr Kazmi in Karachi did excellent jobs on air conditioning and Eng Shahabullah too provided excellent services. He was a very competent electrical engineer and kept liaison with our Jaffar and Ahad Khan, both top-class engineers.
In the end I would like to pay tribute to all the family members of my colleagues. They stood behind them and gave them their constant support, never complaining about their long working hours and absences from home. My colleagues often worked 16 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. My apologies for the many inconveniences they suffered.
As for me, the whole country and I owe a lot to my wife, who left behind her parents and country and unstintingly supported me through some very difficult times. She was put through great suffering and our daughters and granddaughters were kept from visiting us for months on end.
My conscience is clear. I did only what I was instructed to do. Had it been for money, I would have been far better off going elsewhere.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all the services chiefs, politicians and civil servants who were involved in any way whatsoever and who gave us their all-out support to achieve our cherished goals. The gratitude of my family and me go to the Pakistani nation for showing us such love, affection and appreciation, especially during times of great trial, for my services to the country.
Concluded
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com