Description

While still working as Chief Scientist and Director of the Institute for Nuclear Power, Islamabad I kept subconsciously thinking of  the life after impending retirement. One thing was certain I never wished to go too far away from Islamabad where I had started my professional career with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in 1969 and to which I had returned a decade earlier after serving in the intervening period (1980-1999) for two decades at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant. While I was at it, we visited the area around Taxila and Khanpur Dam to either see the 2500 years old ruins of Gandhara Civilization or for picnicking. The historical perspective so clearly evident from the ruins at Dharmajhika, Sirkup, Sirsukh and Julian took us back in time when the place was a centre of learning. A visit to the nearby Jundial Temple of Greek structural design fascinated us immensely. The fact that Alexander the Great visited the area in 326 BC was indeed something not to be oblivious of. Indeed it was something which compelled us to associate with. Coincidental with this all came an advertisement in the Daily Dawn from Minawa Group inviting people to own a fruit orchard at their Wakefield Garden Orange Valley Farms. Without any second thought we decided as a family to purchase and own a one acre plot, which already had mature Lychee Trees standing on it. We hired the services of a young architect Muhammad Ibrahim Khan who had just returned from Russia after completing a degre in architecture. Our family spent several evenings in those days with MIK to realise the design of the farmhouse, we now call 'The Lychee Grove Farmhouse'. It's construction with support of Hasan, our eldest son was completed in 2009 when I had just concluded a further four years of contract service as Adviser in the PAEC. My life after retirement could begin. Anjum and I moved in almost immediately. With very dedicated support of our son Saad and Daughter inlaw Sahar who lived in Rawalpindi but came every week to be with us, we gradually built up the farm as it stands today. We planted fruit trees/vines e.g., Apricot, Peach, Persimom, Grapes, Plum and of Khanpur Oranges, which we acquired from Tarnab Government Plant Nurseries near Peshawar. All these have since matured and fruit in their respective seasons. Many other plants and trees which were planted in those early days include Junipers, Maple, Magnolia, Auaucaria, Jacaranda, Ficus and the redoubtable Casia Nodosa. We grow Garlic, Onion, Tomato and many an other types of vegetables too almost religiously round the year. The original Lychee Trees produce at least a ton of the fruit every year in mid summer and bless us with immense happiness and pleasure we together as a family and friends of family enjoy. 

The farm could be reached from Islamabad/Rawalpindi by taking the GT Road towards Peshawar and taking the right turn at the road sign of Taxila Cantt. After turning, the road leads straight to the Taxila Museum and further on to the University of Engineering Taxila (UET). A further 5-7 minutes of driving on this road, which actually goes to the Khanpur Dam, Haripur and Abbotabad, a right turn on the left leads to the village 'Pind Gakhra'. After passing the village main bazaar a further 10 minutes of driving leads to the Wakefield Gardens Orange Valley Farms. Our farm is one of 126 one acre farms in this conglomerate. 

The farm is frequented by our sons and their families. Presently besides ourselves (Anjum and myself) these comprise the following: 

Hasans: Hasan Iqbal, Tania Hasan, Eemaan and Avizheh 

Omars: Omar Iqbal, Sadaf, Hamza, Hiba, Rahma and Yahya 

Saads: Saad Iqbal, Sahar, Inaya and Ne'ma   

Taha Iqbal, Shaema, Ammanah and Zainub 

A group picture of the family together identified as 'Iqbals' is taken on every Eid when they assemble to celebrate the occasion. The group photograph shown on the RHS under the header of this Blog is updated every year.