This is an excerpt from an article 'Earthly Matters' by Rina Saeed Khan in The Review Dawn Aug 28-Sept 3 2008. the-review@dawn.com and http://dawn.com .........this goes to show the before and after effect of changes which alter the looks of a once favorite spot. I can fully empathise with the feelings expressed by the writer.

(Also read, I suggest "Salute to the worker, who works for the "Green" cause". In foggy’ s blog, in openforum.com.au ....of 21/05/2008. Key words: favorite spot. Thank you).

Excerpt:

1 "The road past Murree was smoother than a few years ago, and the monkeys were still sitting on the road when we passed through Ayubia National Park. The smell of pine was in the air and the forest looked dense-I was relieved to see that nothing had changed all that dramatically".

2 "This was still more or less what I remembered from my childhood-whereas Murree(especially the Mall Road and Kashmir.....) is now a horror that I avoid visiting at all costs. It just breaks my heart to see its dangerous, concrete mushroom growth. The old Murree of shady trees, fenced parks and colonial era cottages is just a memory now".

3 "Gali is still picturesque, but I noted that new houses and hotels have sprouted in recent years. Some of the older hotels like Greens have lost their old charm and become very commercial. But at least Nathia Gali has its forest!"