Shakarparian (Urdu: شکر پڑیاں; also known as Shakarparian Hills) is a hill and a national park area. This hill has a great importance in the history of Pakistan. There is a small monument to mark the spot where President Ayub Khan stood with other members and decided that this will be new capital of Pakistan. At a height of 609 meters, the terraced gardens offer pleasant and sweeping vistas of Margalla and Murree hills, Rawal Lake, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Summer Time: Bring along your family & friends and join us on an early morning ride around Shakarparian to take in the fresh environment.

Looking forward to an active participation!

Those returning during the ride please inform the coordinators.

It is an easy ride and it’s on the road so all kinds of bicycle can join.

As we hike along the Margalla Ridge from Pir Sohawa, a narrow and curvy stretch of the scenic Pharilla track offers pine trees, small streams, and a panoramic view of the nearby areas.

An old forest rest house from the British Era is located at Pharilla, approximately 8Km from Pir Sohawa. It was maintained by the CDA until a big forest fire destroyed it a couple of years ago. It still provides a perfect picnic spot!

• We will gather at the meeting point
• Travel as a convoy to the starting point
• We will park our cars at Dino Valley parking.
• Distance: 18Km round trip (from/to Pir Shoawa)
• Elevation Gain: 450m
• Hike Rating: Strenuous (because of the distance and heat)
• Wear sturdy shoes; bring refreshments. Also do not forget your camera/phone as you do not want to miss taking shots of the beautiful views!
• Bring enough water and fluids to survive the heat.

Please Note: People who have not registered will not be allowed to join the hike.

Language: Arabic with English subtitles
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Screenplay: Kaouther Ben Hania

Cast: Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury, Nesbet Serhan, Ramy Brahem, Firas Khoury, Ali Talel Yacoub
Awards: Academy Award Nomination for Best International Feature Film.

• “The Voice of Hind Rajab” has won around 10 awards so far. It earned the Grand Jury Prize at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival plus six parallel awards: ARCA CinemaGiovani, CICT‑UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni, Croce Rossa Italiana, Edipo Re, Leoncino d’Oro, Sorriso Diverso Venezia, and UNIMED. It also snagged the Audience Award at San Sebastián, the Grand Prize at Film Fest Gent, a Jury Award at Chicago International Film Festival, the Brizzola Family Foundation Award at Hamptons, and the Cinema for Peace Dove at the Cinema for Peace Awards.

The film uses the real audio recording of the heart-wrenching voice of Hind Rajab, while fictionally reconstructing the drama of the emergency responders in the call-center office, with real people played by actors, talking, shouting and emoting in response to the voice of the little girl... A taut docu-drama that combines real-life imagery and sounds to create a haunting depiction of war- a harrowing portrait of an attempted rescue that is captivating and emotionally intense...
The film unfolds like a thriller by following the drama in a call center in almost real time. A man receives a dispatch at the Red Crescent call center. It is a request from a man in Germany desperate for the Palestinian response center to connect with his brother in Gaza, who is trapped in a car with his family. The call is heeded and the man briefly connects with a young woman in the car. She frantically mentions that tanks are beside them and that Israeli soldiers are shooting.

As bullets pop violently she screams in horror and the call goes dead. When the man calls back to ease his fear that the worst has happened, a little girl answers the phone. She is six years old and her name is Hind. She is alone, and very scared...

Check out Islamabad at night!

Its summer time and cycling at night gives a whole new perspective to the city, so step out and become part of the scene- a night ride experience not to be missed!

For those of you interested in 'Comparative Cultures' coupled with a bit of adventure, this is an opportunity for you to check out what the Capital has to offer!

6 days /5 nights
Hunza Valley s ione of the most picturesque and culturally rich region of Gilgi,t Baltistan. Situated in the norther region of Pakistan, it is approximately a two hour drive from Gilgit city on the Karakoram Highway
At an elevation of 2500 meters it is situated on the north/west of Hunza River and spreads over 7900 square kilometers, it hosts a number of famous peaks of more than 6000 meter in height: Ultar, Rakaposhi, Diran, Golden Peak and Ladyfinger.
Itinerary
Day 1: Islamabad to Gilgit by morning flight.
Gilgit to Karimabad (Hunza). hort stay at Rakaposhi View Point. Arrival at Hunza. Sightseeing and photography. Overnight stay at selected hotel at Hunza.
Day 2: Full day to explore Hunza. Visit Duikar, Altit Fort, Baltit Fort and Ganaish. Overnight stay at Hunza.
Day 3: Full day trip to Upper Hunza. Visit Attabad Lake, Gulmit, Passu, Borit Lake and Khunjrab Pass. Return to Passu for night stay.
Day 4 Full day free to go for short hiking trip along Passu glacier or do local exploration around Passu
Day 5: Return travel to Gilgit. Enjoy scenic drive on KKH. Lunch en route at Rakaposhi View Point. Night stay at hotel at Gilgit

Day 6: Morning flight to Islamabad.

Celebrating Volume # 9 of The Aleph Review- a yearly anthology of literary writing and art from Pakistani and international writers, published by Broken Leg Publications.

The Ambassador of Austria, His Excellency Wolfgang Kutschera, will share his thoughts on the publication.

The programme will include readings by contributing poets and authors based in Islamabad, and conversation on the cover art and other artwork featured in the anthology,  followed by a Q&A session with the editors. All volumes of the review will be available at discounted prices!

Adventure Club /Photography/Trips:

Friday to Saturday : May 29-31

WEEKEND IN SHOGRAN, KAGHAN VALLEY
Shogran, one of the most beautiful plateaus in Kaghan Valley is situated 219 km from Islamabad. It takes about five hours to reach here via Mansehra, Balakot and Kawai.

Surrounded by thick pine forests and with an altitude of 2,362m, the early summer climate of Shogran is pleasantly cold in May. From Shogran you have a breathtaking view of Kaghan Valley’s snow covered peaks such as Musa Ka Musalla (4,419m), Makra (3,885m) and Malika Parbat (5,290m).
Programme:
On Friday : we will drive in a van to Shogran with couple of photo/refreshment stops en route. Shogran will be our base station where we will stay for two nights in a comfortable hotel. Afternoon will be free to walk around Shogran to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.
On Saturday: we will go by 4x4 jeep to Sari and Paya in one hour. Group members will walk around the place and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of mountains from the ridge of Paya, Paya at 3,079 is a lush green meadow with spectacular view of Malika Parbat and other snow covered mountains of Kaghan Valley. The group will come back to Shogran by 4x4 jeeps. Afternoon will be free for rest and recreation at Shogran.
On Sunday: Morning will be free for rest and recreation in Shogran till 11.00 am. There are good opportunities to go around for short walks and hikes around this place. We will leave for Islamabad at around 11.30 am and reach Islamabad in the afternoon with a lunch stop at Abbottabad.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- ASG END OF YEAR EVENT: 2025-2026!!

ALL OF YOU THAT CALL ISLAMABAD HOME… DO JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATIONS!

MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT & HERITAGE

A SUMPTUOUS DINNER, PRIZES AND MORE…

COLOURS OF PAKISTAN- CREATING MEMORIES THAT WILL LINGER ON

Some evenings are not just mere events.Cities change. Time quietly moves on. But every once in a while, there comes an occasion that brings it all back-the fun element, the warmth and shared experiences…

-Setting the tone: Rawalpindi’s very own Jimmy- celebrated for his electrifying ‘Dhol’ beats- will perform before dinner, building energy and anticipation for the performances to follow!

-For a rich cultural experience- the renowned contemporary Babar Ali Qawwali group from Lahore- that has performed to enthusiastic audiences both Nationally and Internationally- will take center stage after dinner, bringing their own unique expertise to deliver powerful renditions of traditional Qawwalis!

• In Collaboration With Serena Hotel, Islamabad

Note: NOC will be required for foreigners/ diplomats

Geah Forest Track is one of the most beautiful and well managed hiking track at Bara Gali (Abbottabad/ Nathiagali) area. It is one of the lesser explored tracks but easily beats every other track in that area in terms of the beauty and the views from the track. It presents some of the most beautiful places for exploring nature.

The hike is a loop and we will return back to the start point at the end. It is located near Bara Gali (Kalabagh, Nathiagali etc)

Wear sturdy shoes; bring sufficient refreshments/ water. We will picnic at the beautiful boulders at the top!

Hike Rating: Hard with a distance of around 10 km

Join us for an exclusive evening at the intersection of curation and creation!

Hosted within the private residence of independent curator Usman Ahmed, this event offers a rare look at Usman's private art collection alongside a featured showcase of works and talk by Samiya Mahir Sheikh.

We will transition from observers to collaborators in a guided collective art experience. Under Samiya’s supervision, we will contribute to a large-scale textile piece using spray paint, mixed media, and raw pigment to create a shared work that embodies the spirit of playful subversion!

Samiya Mahir Sheikh is a visual artist based in Islamabad, Samiya uses satire and symbolism to question traditional ideas of identity and belonging. With a decade-long practice rooted in media and cultural entrepreneurship, her layered, multimedia works create surreal worlds where humor and tension coexist. Her art gently subverts familiar power structures, inviting fluid readings of gender and authority.

Usman Ahmed is an independent curator, researcher, and art dealer, Usman’s practice foregrounds socially and politically relevant themes such as climate change and human rights. Having collaborated with the United Nations and various international bodies, he specializes in developing exhibitions that serve as platforms for critical advocacy and discourse.

Light refreshments will be served.