Saidpur, Islamabad

Saidpur is a 4 or 5 hundred years old village nestled in the Margalla hills overlooking Islamabad. Built along the slope of the hills, and gradually creeping upwards, the village presents a picturesque view, particularly in the soft light of morning or afternoon sun.

Saidpur has been named after Said Khan, one of the sons of Sultan Sarang Khan, the Gakhar chief of the Potohar region during Emperor Babur’s time. Emperor Jahangir’s memoir, Tuzke Jahangiri, mentions Jahangir halting at a place “beyond Rawalpindi”, on his way to Kabul. From his description it seems the place was Saidpur.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA)of Islamabad is developing Saidpur into a tourist attraction, and is spending nearly 400 million rupees on resurrecting the old village and giving it a quaint look with the hope of making it an attractive tourist's spot.