Thousands of swallows turn city’s most-visited eye hospital into spectacular living sanctuary

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th May, 2026) Every day, thousands of people come to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi with the hope of getting back the light of their eyes, but before entering the hospital, many visitors first look toward the sky in surprise, where thousands of swallows fly over the building while hundreds of mud nests hang beneath its huge shades and walls.

The scene beside has become a source of attraction for patients and attendants alike. From early morning till sunset, the small birds keep circling in groups, their sharp flight and sweet chirping filling the hospital atmosphere with life and movement. Many visitors stop for a few moments, quietly watching the birds before walking inside for treatment.

For many Muslims, these birds also carry deep emotional importance because birds called Ababeel are mentioned in Surah Al-Fil. According to the Quran, when Abraha marched toward the Holy Kaaba with an army of elephants, flocks of birds sent by Allah destroyed the army and left them “like eaten straw.” Because of this event, swallows and similar birds are often remembered with respect and wonder across the Muslim world.

Outside the hospital building, hundreds of mud nests can be seen attached beneath the large concrete shades. The nests are made by the birds using mud, tiny pieces of grass and saliva. The birds fly back and forth throughout the day and return together in large numbers during the evening.

Javed Iqbal, who came from Bhakkar for eye treatment, told APP he had never seen so many swallows and nests gathered at one place.

Even in our villages, I have not seen such a huge number of birds flying together, he said while looking toward the sky.

He said the movement and sounds of the birds create a peaceful feeling for patients waiting for treatment.

Their flight makes people stop and smile, he added.

Talking to APP, a patient, Alia, who came from Islamabad for treatment, said she was under severe mental stress because of her illness and the heavy rush inside the hospital, but the chirping of the swallows, their flying flocks and the beautifully built mud nests left her amazed.

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For some moments, I forgot all my tension while watching them, she said.

Another patient, Iqra from Islamabad, told APP that the hospital was overcrowded and she had started feeling suffocated inside the building.

But the voices of these tiny birds removed that feeling, she said.

She added that although the hospital buildings felt congested for patients due to the rush, the swallows somehow created a feeling of openness and peace outside.

Nearby, a young child from Jhelum, Waseem, who had a patch over one eye after treatment, stood silently watching the birds for several minutes.

I saw these nests for the first time in my life, Waseem told APP innocently.

A sanitation worker cleaning beneath the nesting area said the hospital staff enjoyed seeing the birds every day.

We clean this area daily, but we feel happy because these birds make the environment beautiful, he told APP.

Their voices early in the morning sound very pleasant, and when they return together at sunset, it feels like the whole building comes alive.

Experts say around 85 to 90 species of swallows, martins and saw-wings are found around the world. All belong to the Hirundinidae bird family, while the largest number of species is found in Africa.

Pakistan is also home to more than 15 swallow species. Some stay throughout the year while others migrate seasonally. The most common is the one widely seen across Pakistan’s plains. Other species found in the country include.

These birds are considered important for the environment because they feed on mosquitoes and flying insects while in the air, helping naturally control pests and maintain ecological balance.