Pakistan is decorating bus stops with Koranic verses and Islamic calligraphy to give a more spiritual flavour to the capital Islamabad, long considered one of the country’s most liberal cities.
The Capital Development Authority plans to roll out 100 new bus shelters – known locally as sunshades – painted with flowers and religious verses to spruce up the 1960s purpose-built capital.
“The new sunshades will not only provide protection to commuters from inhospitable weather but will also project the art of Islamic calligraphy and our rich heritage,” CDA official Haji Mehboob Ahmad said…
The name of God has been painted in Arabic calligraphy and there is a public service message exhorting bus users to respect public property.
“This bus stand belongs to you. Please take care of this sunshade and keep your city green and clean,” the message says.