Islām ābād (Meaning "Abode of
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
") is the capital of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
, and is the tenth largest city in Pakistan with an estimated population of over 673,766 in 2009. The Rawalpindi/Islamabad Metropolitan Area is the third largest in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
, with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants.
Islamabad is located in the
Pothohar PlateauThe Pothohar Plateau is a plateau in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites...
in the north of the country, within the
Islamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
. The region has historically been a part of the crossroads of
PunjabThe Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the country's most populous region with about 45% of Pakistan's total population. The Punjab is home to the Punjabis and various other groups...
and
North-West Frontier ProvinceThe North-West Frontier Province is the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan...
,
Margalla passThe Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
being a gateway to the North-West Frontier Province. The
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
was built during the 1960s to replace
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
as Pakistan's capital. However, the capital was not moved directly from
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
to Islamabad. It was first shifted to
Rawalpindi' Rāwalpindī) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. Locally known as Pindi, the area was home to the pre-historic Soanian culture indigenous to...
and then to Islamabad after all the developmental works were finished.
Islamabad is one of the greenest and most well-planned cities of
South AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east...
. According to a survey, Islamabad is considered the cleanest city in Pakistan. The city is well-organized and divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad was ranked as a
Gamma world cityA global city is a city deemed to be an important node point in the global economic system. The concept comes from geography and urban studies and rests on the idea that globalization can be understood as largely created, facilitated and enacted in strategic geographic locales according to a...
in 2008. The city is home to
Faisal MosqueThe Faisal Mosque in Islamabad is the largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world. It was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993 when overtaken in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco...
, the
largest mosque in
South AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east...
and the
sixth largest mosque in the World.
Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan. The top ranked university in Pakistan,
Quaid-i-Azam UniversityQuaid-i-Azam University is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan.One of the best public sector universities in Pakistan, it was founded as the University of Islamabad in 1965...
, is located in Islamabad. The top two engineering universities in Pakistan,
Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied SciencesPakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences is located at Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences started as a small manpower training facility, known as Reactor School in 1967, which was set up by Dr. I.H.Usmani. In 1976 it was upgraded by Mr...
and
National University of Sciences and TechnologyNational University of Sciences and Technology, commonly known by its acronym NUST, is a public university that was primarily founded by the Government of Pakistan in 1991 to train members of the Pakistan Armed Forces after merging together previously established military institutes and...
are also located here.
Allama Iqbal Open UniversityAllama Iqbal Open University AIOU, founded in 1974, when founded was the 2nd biggest University in the world, 1st in Asia and Pakistan.-History:...
in Islamabad is the
world's second largest university by enrollmentThis list of largest universities by enrollment includes total active enrollment across all campuses . Enrollment numbers listed are the sum of undergraduate and graduate students in active enrollment...
.
Early History
The region is preceded by thousands of years of history.
Islamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
, located in the
Pothohar PlateauThe Pothohar Plateau is a plateau in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites...
, is regarded to be one of the earliest sites of human settlement in
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
. The plateau has revealed evidence of a prehistoric culture. It is known that a Buddhist town once existed in the region. Relics and human skulls have been found dating back to 5000 B.C. that show this region was home to Stone Age people who used the banks of Swaan River as their settlement. The Stone Age people developed small communities in the region at around
3000 BCThe 30th century BC is a century which lasted from the year 3000 BC to 2901 BC.-Events:* Before 3000 BC: Image of a deity, detail from a cong recovered from Tomb 12, Fanshan, Yuyao, Zhejiang, is made. Neolithic period. Liangzhu culture. It is now kept at Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Hangzhou.* 3000...
, leading to the early roots of
civilizationA civilization is a complex society or culture group characterized by dependence upon agriculture, long-distance trade, state form of government, occupational specialization, population, and class stratification.-Definition:...
here.
Situated at one end of the
Indus Valley CivilizationThe Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization which centred mostly in the western part of the Indian Subcontinent and flourished around the Indus river basin....
, this area was the first habitation of the
AryanAryan is an English language loanword denoting variously*in historical or dated usage,**the Indo-Iranian languages and their speakers, viz. the Iranian and Indo-Aryan peoples**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers,...
community from Central Asia. The civilization flourished here between the 23rd and 18th centuries BC. Some of the earliest Stone Age artefacts in the world have been found on the plateau, dating from 500,000 to 100,000 years. The crude stones recovered from the terraces of the Soan carry the account of human grind and endeavours in this part of the world from the
inter-glacialA glacial period is an interval of time within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate within an ice age...
period. Items of pottery and utensils dating back to prehistory have also been found.
Islamabad was one of the routes though which the armies from the north and northwest passed to invade the Indian Subcontinent. Many great armies such as those of
Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon, popularly known as Alexander the Great , was an Ancient Greek king of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history...
,
Genghis KhanGenghis Khan , ; 1162–1227), born , was the founder, Khan and Khagan of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history....
,
TimurTimur , also known as Tamerlane , was a 14th-century conqueror of much of western and central Asia, and founder of the Timurid Empire and Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, which survived until 1857 as the Mughal...
and
Ahmad Shah DurraniAhmad Shāh Durrānī , also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī and born as Ahmad
Khān Abdālī, was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded by many to be the founder of modern Afghanistan.After the assassination of Nader Shah Afshar, he became the Amir of Khorasan and later became the...
have used this route on their way to Indian Subcontinent. Modern Islamabad is based on the old settlement known as
SaidpurSaidpur is a city in the Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh. The city has a population of around 120,000 . It contains an airport known as Saidpur Airport. It is also an important place for railway and train manufacturing. In 1870, the largest railway workshop of the Assam-Bengal railway was set up...
. The region later became a Sikh town and became an important trading centre. The British seized the region from the Sikhs in 1849 and built Asia’s largest cantonment in the region.
Construction and Development
When Pakistan came into being in 1947,
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
was its first capital. However, in 1960, Islamabad was constructed as a forward capital due to certain reasons. Traditionally, the development was focused on the colonial centre of
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
and
PresidentPresident is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. Etymologically, a "president" is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Ayub KhanMuhammad Ayub Khan , N.Pk., H.Pk., HJ, psc, was the first military ruler of Pakistan, serving as the President of Pakistan...
wanted it to be equally distributed. Moreover,
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
was located at one end of the country making it vulnerable to attacks from the
seaThe Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia, Socotra, Kanyakumari in India, and the western coast...
and a capital which was easily accessible from all parts of the country was needed. The new selected location of Islamabad was closer to
GHQIn Japan, GHQ commonly refers to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers , which occupied Japan after World War II.GHQ may refer to:* General headquarters, a generic term for a military command center, see headquarters...
in Rawalpindi and the disputed territory of
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent...
in the North.
In 1958, a commission was constituted to select a suitable site for the national capital with particular emphasis on location, climate, logistics, and defence requirements along with other attributes. After extensive study, research, and thorough review of various sites, the commission recommended the area northeast of Rawalpindi. A Greek firm of architects
Konstantinos Apostolos DoxiadisConstantinos Apostolou Doxiadis , was a Greek architect and town planner. He became world wide known as the lead architect of Islamabad, the new capital of Pakistan, the city of Rawalpindi and later as the father of Ekistics...
designed the master plan of the city which was triangular in shape, based on a
Grid planThe grid plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid. In the context of the culture of Ancient Greece the grid plan is called Hippodamian plan.-Ancient grid plans:...
, with its apex towards the
Margalla HillsThe Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
.
Since its establishment it has attracted people from all over Pakistan making it the most cosmopolitan city in the country. As the capital city it has hosted a number of important meetings, such as the
South Asian Association for Regional CooperationThe South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia. In terms of population, its sphere of influence is the largest of any regional organization: almost 1.5 billion people, the combined population of its member states...
summit. In 2005, the city suffered some damage due to the 2005 earthquake.
Geography and Climate
Islamabad is located at at the edge of the
Pothohar PlateauThe Pothohar Plateau is a plateau in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites...
on the foot of the
Margalla HillsThe Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
in
Islamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
. It is situated at an elevation of . The modern capital and the ancient
GakharThe Gakhars were a fiercely independent and warlike clan now located in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Khanpur and Mirpur regions in modern day Pakistan. They formed a feudal aristocracy over the territories they controlled...
city of Rawalpindi stand side by side and are therefore commonly referred to as the Twin Cities. On the East of the city lies
MurreeMurree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
and Kotli Sattian.
KahutaKahuta is the main city of Kahuta Tehsil a subdivision of Rawalpindi District, Pakistan..- Notable places :Kahuta is famous for the Kahuta Research Laboratories, Pakistan's main facility for scientific research. Kahuta is also noted for its nuclear research studies and nuclear developement...
lies on the North East,
TaxilaTaxila is an important archaeological site in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It dates back to the Ancient Indian period and contains the ruins of the Gandhāran city of Takshashila an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist centre of learning from the 6th century BCEto the 5th century CE...
,
Wah CanttWah Cantt is a cantonment city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, 50 km to the North West of Islamabad.-Location:Wah Cantt is situated approximately 30 km northwest of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad...
, and
Attock DistrictAttock District is a district in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.-Creation:The district was created in April 1904 by the merger of Talagang Tehsil in the Jhelum District with the Pindigheb, Fatehjang and Attock tehsils from Rawalpindi District of the Punjab province of British...
on the North West,
Gujar KhanGujar Khan also called the land of SHAHEEDS is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of punjab. It is approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan and 220 km to the north west of Lahore,...
, Kallar Syedian, Rawat, and
MandrahMandrah is a town in Gujar Khan Tehsil, Punjab, Pakistan. Mandrah is also chief town of Union Council Mandrah which is an administrative subdivision of the Tehsil.-Transport:...
on the North East, Rawalpindi on the South West, and NWFP on the West.
The capital area of the Islamabad city is . A further area is known as the Specified Area, with the Margala Hills in the north and northeast. The southern portion of the city is an undulating plain. It is drained by the Kurang River, on which the Rawal Dam is located.
Islamabad's micro-climate is regulated by three artificial reservoirs;
RawalRawal Lake in Pakistan is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This artificial lake covers an area of 8.8 km²...
, Simli, and
Khanpur DamKhanpur Dam is a dam located on the Haro River near the town of Khanpur , about 25 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan. It forms Khanpur Lake, a reservoir which supplies drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi and irrigation water to many of the agricultural and industrial areas surrounding the...
. Khanpur Dam is located on the
Haro RiverHaro is the name of a river and its valley in Abbottabad District in the North West Frontier Province of northern Pakistan, identified with the Rigvedic Arjikiya.It is fed by four major tributaries:...
near the town of Khanpur (NWFP), about from Islamabad. Simli Dam is located around ) north of Islamabad. of the city is covered with Margalla Hill National Park. Along the Islamabad Highway, Loi Bher Forest is situated, covering an area of .
The city overall has an extreme climate. The hottest months are from May to July. The
monsoonA pennis is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by seasonal changes in precipitation, but now is used to describe seasonal changes atmospheric circulation and precipitation The major monsoon systems of the world consist of the African and Asia-Australian monsoons...
season occurs during July and August, with heavy rainfalls. Winters occur from October to March and are and fairly cold with sparse snowfall over the hills. The weather ranges from a minimum of in January to a maximum of in June. The average low is in January, while the average high is in June. The highest temperature recorded was in June, while the lowest temperature was in January. On 23 July 2001, Islamabad received a record breaking 620 mm of rainfall in 10 hours. It was the heaviest rainfall in Islamabad in 100 years.
Cityscape
| Zones in Islamabad |
| Zone |
Area |
| acres |
km2 |
|
| I |
|
| II |
|
| III |
|
| IV |
|
| V |
|
|
| Source: |
Lahore Real Estate |
Civic Administration
Islamabad Capital territory is divided into eight zones; Administrative Zone, Commercial District, Educational Sector, Industrial Sector, Diplomatic Enclave, Residential Areas, and Rural Areas and Green Area. Islamabad city is divided into five major zones, Zone I, Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV, and Zone V. Out of these, Zone IV is the largest in area. Zone I comprises mainly of all the developed residential sectors in Islamabad while Zone II comprises the under-developed residential sectors. Each residential sector is identified by an alphabet and a number, and covers an area of approximately 2 km × 2 km ( mi × 1 mi). The sectors are named from A to I, and each sector is divided into four sub-sectors, named numerically.
Series A, B, and C are still underdeveloped. D series have 7 sectors (D-11 to D-17) in which only sector D-12 is complete. This series is located right under the foot of Margalla Hills. The E Sectors are named from E-7 to E-17 and many foreigners and diplomatic personnels are housed in these sectors. In the revised Master Plan of the city, CDA has decided to develop a park on the patterns of
F-9 parkFatima Jinnah Park or sometimes known as F-9 park is a public recreational park situated in sector F-9 of Islamabad, Pakistan. The park is considered one of the largest in South East Asia...
in sector E-14. Sectors E-8 and E-9 contain the campuses of three Defense universities;
Bahria UniversityBahria University , also known as BU, is a multi-campus university, with its headquarter in Islamabad, Pakistan. BU has two campuses, one in Islamabad and the other in Karachi...
, Air University, and
National Defence UniversityNational Defence University may refer to:*Finnish National Defence University.*Zrinyi Miklos National Defence University, Hungary.*National Defence College, India.*National Security College of the Israel Defense Forces....
.
The F and G series contains the most developed sectors. F series contains sectors F-5 to F-17 where the later sectors are still under-developed. F-5 is an important sector for the software industry in Islamabad, as both of the two software technology parks are located here. The entire F-9 sector is covered with
Fatima Jinnah ParkFatima Jinnah Park or sometimes known as F-9 park is a public recreational park situated in sector F-9 of Islamabad, Pakistan. The park is considered one of the largest in South East Asia...
. The
Centaurus complexThe Centaurus is a mixed-use development project currently under construction in Islamabad, Pakistan. The project involves over 6.59 acres of land in Islamabad's arterial corridor, called Blue Area....
will be one of the major landmarks of the F-8 sector. G sectors are numbered G-5 through G-17. Some important places include the Jinnah Convention Center and Serena Hotel in G-5, the
Red MosqueThe Lal Masjid is a mosque located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. A religious school for women, the Jamia Hafsa madrasah, and a male madrasah, Jamia Faridia are attached to the mosque.-History:...
in G-6, and
Pakistan Institute of Medical SciencesPakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Objectives of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences are to provide a tertiary level patient care and serve as referral hospital and also to conduct teaching and training of doctors and other health workers at various level...
in G-8 which is the largest medical complex in the capital.
The H sectors are numbered H-8 through H-17. The H sectors are mostly dedicated to educational and health institutions.
National University of Science and TechnologyNational University of Sciences and Technology, commonly known by its acronym NUST, is a public university that was primarily founded by the Government of Pakistan in 1991 to train members of the Pakistan Armed Forces after merging together previously established military institutes and...
covers a major portion of sector H-12. The I sectors are numbered from I-8 to I-18. Except for I-8 which is a well developed residential area, these sectors are primarily a part of the industrial zone. Currently, only two sub-sectors of I-9 and one sub-sector of I-10 is used as industrial areas. CDA is planning to set up Islamabad Railway Station in Sector I-18 and Industrial City in sector I-17.
Zone III constitutes primarily of the
Margalla HillsThe Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
and
Margalla Hills National ParkThe Margalla Hills National Park is located in Northern Pakistan at the foothills of the Himalayas and is a National Park. It is approximately 17,386 hectares in size.-Location:...
.
Rawal LakeRawal Lake in Pakistan is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This artificial lake covers an area of 8.8 km²...
is also present in this zone. Zone IV and V comprises Islamabad Park and rural areas of the city.
Soan RiverSoan River is a river in Punjab, Pakistan.- History :The oldest evidence of human life in Pakistan was found in the Soan River valley of Pothohar Plateau region of Punjab. This human activity, called Soan Culture, discovered in the form of pebble tools scattered long the river...
flows into the city through Zone V. The main administrative authority of the city is Capital Development Authority (CDA) which oversees the planning, development, construction, and administration of the city.
Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area
In 1960, when the master plan for Islamabad was designed, it was planned that Islamabad and
Rawalpindi' Rāwalpindī) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. Locally known as Pindi, the area was home to the pre-historic Soanian culture indigenous to...
along with the adjoining areas will be integrated to form a large
metropolitan areaA metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence, or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central cities and their zone of influence...
called Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area. The area would consist of the developing Islamabad, the old city of Rawalpindi, and the
Islamabad National ParkThe Margalla Hills National Park is located in Northern Pakistan at the foothills of the Himalayas and is a National Park. It is approximately 17,386 hectares in size.-Location:...
. Initially, it was proposed that the three areas will be connected by four major highways; Murree Highway, Islamabad Highway, Soan Highway, and Capital Highway. However, to date only two highways have been constructed;
Murree HighwayThe Kashmir Highway was a route that used to traverse the length of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, it provided an important link into the Punjab. This highway was built by the then Maharaja of Kashmir Gulab Singh in 1882...
(now called Kashmir Highway) and Islamabad Highway.
Presently, the area comprises
Islamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
(Islamabad,
Islamabad National ParkThe Margalla Hills National Park is located in Northern Pakistan at the foothills of the Himalayas and is a National Park. It is approximately 17,386 hectares in size.-Location:...
, and Islamabad Rural Area) and
Rawalpindi' Rāwalpindī) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. Locally known as Pindi, the area was home to the pre-historic Soanian culture indigenous to...
.
Islamabad is the hub all the governmental activities while Rawalpindi is the centre of all industrial, commercial, and military activities. The two cities are considered sister cities and are highly dependent for the development of the metropolitan.
Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area is the third largest in Pakistan, with a population of over 4.5 million. The area is drained by two major rivers; Kurang River and
Soan RiverSoan River is a river in Punjab, Pakistan.- History :The oldest evidence of human life in Pakistan was found in the Soan River valley of Pothohar Plateau region of Punjab. This human activity, called Soan Culture, discovered in the form of pebble tools scattered long the river...
. Three dams;
Rawal LakeRawal Lake in Pakistan is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This artificial lake covers an area of 8.8 km²...
,
Simly DamThe Simly Dam is the largest reservoir of drinking water to people living in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The water stored in this dam is fed by the melting snow & natural springs of Murree hills.-Location:...
, and
Khanpur DamKhanpur Dam is a dam located on the Haro River near the town of Khanpur , about 25 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan. It forms Khanpur Lake, a reservoir which supplies drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi and irrigation water to many of the agricultural and industrial areas surrounding the...
are located in the region, providing water to the local population.
Architecture
Islamabad's
architectureFor a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of architecture. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for human shelter or use....
walks a tightrope between modernity and old Islamic and regional traditions. The
Saudi-Pak TowerThe Saudi-Pak Tower is an office building in the Blue Area section of Islamabad, Pakistan.The high-rise tower comprises 19 floors where more than a dozen multinational companies are operating, including European Companies, American TV channels and multinationals from Chinese and Middle Eastern...
is a good example of the integration of modern architecture with traditional styles. The beige-coloured edifice is trimmed with blue tile works in Islamic tradition, and is one of Islamabad's tallest buildings. Other examples of intertwined Islamic and modern architecture include Pakistan Monument and
Faisal MosqueThe Faisal Mosque in Islamabad is the largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world. It was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993 when overtaken in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco...
.
The murals on the inside of large petals of Pakistan Monument are based on
Islamic architectureIslamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
. The design of Shah Faisal Mosque is a fusion of contemporary lines with the more traditional look of an Arab Bedouin's tent with large triangular prayer hall and four minarets. The mosque's architecture is a departure from the long history of South Asian Muslim architecture with a lack of dome structure in Faisal Mosque. However, in some ways it makes a bridge between Arabic, Turkish, and Mughal architectural traditions.
The Centaurus is one of the examples of modern architecture under construction in Islamabad. The seven star hotel is designed by
WS Atkins PLCAtkins is a professional services firm providing engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services, based in Epsom, United Kingdom. Formerly known as WS Atkins, it was founded in 1938 by Sir William Atkins. Atkins employs approximately 17,000 staff based in 180 offices in 25...
. The building of under construction
Islamabad Stock ExchangeIslamabad Stock Exchange is one of the three stock exchanges of Pakistan and is located in the capital of Islamabad. It was incorporated on October 25, 1989 and it became fully operational on August 10, 1992. Islamabad Stock Exchange is centrally located in Anees Plaza, Fazal ul Haq Road, Islamabad...
is also an example of modern architecture in the city.
Demographics
| Population through decades |
| Census | Urban
|
|---|
|
| 1951 |
95,940 |
0 |
| 1961 |
117,669 |
0 |
| 1972 |
237,549 |
76,641 |
| 1981 |
340,286 |
204,364 |
| 1998 |
805,235 |
529,180 |
| 2009 (est.) |
1,740,000 |
- |
|
| Sources: |
1998 Census of Pakistan |
According to the 1998 census, the total population of the city was 805,235; 434,239 for males and 370,996 for females.The average annual population growth rate from 1981 to 1998 was 5.19. The urban population of the city was 529,180; with 209,717 males and 238,463 females. The total rural population in 1998 was 276,055; 143,522 males and 132,533 females.
The main language spoken in Islamabad is
UrduUrdu is a Central Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-Iranian branch, belonging to the Indo-European family of languages. It is one of the two official languages of Pakistan. It is also one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of five Indian states...
which is predominantly used within the city due to an ethnic mix of populations.
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
, being the official language of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
is also commonly understood. Other languages include
PunjabiPunjabi or Panjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region ....
, Pashto and
PothohariPotwari or Pothohari can refer to:*An inhabitant of Potwar , a plateau in northern Pakistan*The Potwari language , a Western Pahari language spoken in Potwar and neighboring areasCategory: Ethnic groups in Pakistan...
. The mother tongue of majority of the population is Punjabi, with 71.66%. Urdu is the mother tongue of 10.11% of the population, followed by Pashto with 9.52%, Saraiki with 1.11%, Sindhi with 0.56 percent and other languages accounting for 7.04%.
The total migrant population of the city is 397,731, with the majority from Punjab (241,977). Around 76,614 of the migrated population belongs to NWFP, 26,143 from Sindh, 24,438 from Azad Kashmir, and 21,372 from other countries. Smaller population belongs to FATA, Baluchistan, and Northern Areas.
Islam is the largest religion in the city, with 95.53% of the population Muslim. In rural areas this percentage is 98.80%, while in urban areas the percentage of Muslims is 93.83%. The second largest religion is Christianity, with 4.07% of the population; 0.94% in Rural areas and 5.70% in the urban city. Hindus account for 0.02% of the population, Ahmadis 0.34%, and other minorities 0.03%.
The majority of the population lies in the age group of 15–64 years, around 59.38%. Only 2.73% of the population is above 65 years of age and 37.90 below the age of 15. Islamabad has the highest literacy ratio in Pakistan, at 72.88%. 9.8% of the population has done intermediate (equivalent to 11 and 12 grades). 10.26% have a bachelor or equivalent degree while 5.2% have a master or equivalent degree. The labor force of Islamabad is 185,213 and the unemployment rate is 15.70.
Economy
Islamabad Stock ExchangeIslamabad Stock Exchange is one of the three stock exchanges of Pakistan and is located in the capital of Islamabad. It was incorporated on October 25, 1989 and it became fully operational on August 10, 1992. Islamabad Stock Exchange is centrally located in Anees Plaza, Fazal ul Haq Road, Islamabad...
is Pakistan's third largest stock exchange after
Karachi Stock ExchangeThe Karachi Stock Exchange or KSE is a stock exchange located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Founded in 1947, it is Pakistan's largest and oldest stock exchange, with many Pakistani as well as overseas listings...
and
Lahore Stock ExchangeLahore Stock Exchange Limited is Pakistan's second largest stock exchange after the Karachi Stock Exchange. It is located in Lahore, Pakistan.- History :...
, founded in 1989. The exchange has 118 members with 104
corporate bodiesIn English Law , body corporate is the legal term for a corporate body, i.e. a corporation...
and 18 individual members. The average daily
turnover-Business:*Turnover is sometimes a synonym for revenue , especially in European and South African usage. Turnover is the total value of goods or services sold by a company during a particular period of time....
of the stock exchange is over 1 million shares.
Islamabad has seen an expansion in
information and communications technologyInformation and communication technologies is an umbrella term that covers all technical means for processing and communicating information. The term has gained popularity partially due to the convergence of information technology and telecom technology...
with the addition two
Software Technology ParksA science park or science and technology park is an area with a collection of buildings dedicated to scientific research on a business footing. There are many approximate synonyms for "science park", including research park, technology park, technopolis and biomedical park...
which house numerous national and foreign technological and IT companies. The tech parks are located in Evacuee Trust Complex and Awami Markaz. Awami Markaz houses 36
ITInformation technology , as defined by the Information Technology Association of America , is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic...
companies while Evacuee Trust house 29 companies. Call centers for foreign companies have been targeted as another significant area of growth, with the government making efforts to reduce taxes by as much as 10% in order to encourage foreign investments in the IT sector.
Most of Pakistan's state-owned companies like
PIAPIA is an abbreviation for:* IATA code for Greater Peoria Regional Airport in Peoria, Illinois* ICAO code for Pakistan International Airlines, the flag carrier of Pakistan* Pacific Island Aviation...
,
PTVPTV can refer to:*Pakistan Television Corporation, is a state-run broadcaster of Pakistan, which airs more than dozen channels.*"PTV" , a Family Guy episode*Pactiv, NYSE ticker symbol PTV...
,
PTCLPTCL may be:* Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd, Pakistan* Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, England* Peripheral T-cell lymphoma...
, OGDCL, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd. etc. are based in Islamabad. The city is also home to many branches of
Karachiis the largest city, main seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan, and the capital of the province of Sindh. It is the 3rd largest city in the world by population and 20th largest city of the world, in terms of metropolitan population. It is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and...
-based companies, banks, TV channels etc. Headquarters of all major telecommunication operators; PTCL, Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, China Mobile and others are located in Islamabad.
Culture
Islamabad is home to many migrants from other regions of Pakistan and has a surprising cultural and religious diversity of considerable antiquity. Due to its location in the Pothohar Plateau, remnants of ancient cultures and civilizations such as
AryanAryan is an English language loanword denoting variously*in historical or dated usage,**the Indo-Iranian languages and their speakers, viz. the Iranian and Indo-Aryan peoples**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers,...
,
SoanianThe Soanian is an archaeological culture of the Lower Paleolithic in South Asia, contemporary to the Acheulean. It is named after the Soan Valley in the Sivalik Hills, Pakistan...
, and
Indus Valley civilizationThe Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization which centred mostly in the western part of the Indian Subcontinent and flourished around the Indus river basin....
can still be found in the region. A 15th century
GakharGakhar may refer to:*Gakhars, an ancient aristocratic clan in modern Pakistan and India*Gakhar Hindus, the Hindu section of the Gakhar clan*Ghakhar Mandi, a small city in northeastern Punjab, Pakistan...
fort,
PharwalaPharwala is an historic Fort located about 40 km from Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is naturally defended by one side by a small Himalayan range and the other by the Swaan River. It is a Gakhar fort built in the 15th century on the ruins of a 10th century Hindi Shahi Fort...
Fort, is located near Islamabad which was built on the remains of a 10th century Hindu fort.
Rawat FortRawat Fort is located in Pothohar Pakistan. The fort was built in early 16th century by Gakhars, a tribe of the Pothohar plateau. It is 17 km east of Rawalpindi on Grand Trunk Road....
in the region was built by the
GakharsThe Gakhars were a fiercely independent and warlike clan now located in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Khanpur and Mirpur regions in modern day Pakistan. They formed a feudal aristocracy over the territories they controlled...
in 16th century where the grave of Gakhar chief, Sultan Sarang Khan, is located.
Saidpur Village in Islamabad is named after Said Khan, the son of Sultan Sarang Khan who was a Gakhar chief. The 500 year old village was converted into the a place of Hindu worship by a Mughal Commander, Raja Man Singh. He constructed a number of small ponds; Rama kunda, Sita kunda, Lakshaman kunda, and Hanuman kunda in the area. The region hosts many Hindu temples that are still preserved showing the remains of Hindu civilization and architecture in the region.
The shrine of Sufi Mystic,
Pir Meher Ali ShahPir Meher Ali Shah was born 14 April 1859 in Golra Sharif. which is located midway between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, in present-day Pakistan. The time just before his birth saw the Indian Rebellion of 1857 fought between the British and the sepoys allied with seven of the Princely states...
, is located at
Golra SharifGolra Sharif is a town situated near the Margalla Hills, in the Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, at about 1707 feet above sea level, 17 km from the ancient city of Taxila....
which has a rich cultural heritage of pre-Islamic period. Archaeological remains of the Buddhist era can still be found in the region. The shrine of
Bari ImamBari Imam , whose real name is Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, was born in 1026 Hijra .His father, Syed Mehmood Shah, shifted his family from Jhelum District to Baghan village, presently called Aabpara. At that time, it was a barren land. Soon after the arrival of Bari Imam’s family, his father started...
was built by Mughal Emperor
AurangzebMuhi ud-din Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I, more commonly known as Aurangzeb Muhi ud-din Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I, more commonly known as Aurangzeb Muhi ud-din Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I, more commonly known as Aurangzeb ( (full title: Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan...
. Thousands of devotees from across Pakistan attend the annual
UrsUrs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
of Bari Imam. The event is one of the largest religious gatherings in Islamabad. In 2004, the Urs was attended by more than 1.2 million people.
The Lok Virsa in Islamabad preserves the living folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. The
Folk Heritage MuseumLok Virsa Museum is situated in Islamabad Pakistan. It displays the cultural heritage of Pakistani people. The living style of the different areas of Pakistan is exhibited here in statues, pictures, pottery, music and textile work...
, located near Shakarparian hills, has a large display of embroidered costumes, jewellery, woodwork, black printing, ivory, and bone work from the region and other parts of Pakistan.
Education
Islamabad boasts the Highest Literacy Rate in Pakistan at 72.88%. A large number of
publicA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities...
and
privatePrivate universities are not operated by governments though they may or may not receive funding . Depending on the region, private universities may be subject to government regulation...
sector educational institutes are present here. The
higher educationHigher education refers to a level of education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, institutes of technology and other collegiate level institutions, such as vocational schools, trade schools and career colleges, that award academic...
institutes in the capital are either federally chartered or administered by private organizations and almost all of them are recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.
High schoolHigh school is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in Scotland, Northern America and Oceania, to describe an institution that provides all or part of secondary education...
s and colleges are either affiliated with the
Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary EducationFederal Board of Intermediate Education, Islamabad is the Intermediate Education Governmental body in Pakistan and overseas Pakistani schools.-External links:*...
or with the UK universities education boards (O/A Levels, IGCSE etc.). According to Academy of Educational Planning And Management's
report, in 2006 there were a total of 904 recognized institutions in Islamabad (30 pre-primary, 2
religiousMadrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
, 384 primary, 157
middleMiddle school or junior high school serves as a "bridge" between elementary school and high school. The terms can be used in different ways in different countries, sometimes interchangeably...
, 291
highHigh school is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in Scotland, Northern America and Oceania, to describe an institution that provides all or part of secondary education...
, 15 intermediate, and 25
degree collegesUndergraduate education is education taken prior to gaining a first degree, hence in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is known as...
). 7
teacher trainingTeacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
institutes are also running in Islamabad with a total enrolment of 581,068 students and 491 teaching faculty.
The
Gender Parity IndexThe Gender Parity Index is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the relative access to education of males and females. In its simplest form, it is calculated as the quotient of the number of females by the number of males enrolled in a given stage of education...
in Islamabad is 0.93 compared to 0.95 for Pakistan. There are 178 boys only institutes, 175 girls, and 551 mixed institutes in the capital territory. Total enrolment of students in all categories is 273,583; 139,961 for boys and 133,622 for girls.
There are 17 recognized universities in Islamabad with a total enrollment of 279,820 students and 25,653 teachers. The
world's second largest university by enrolmentThis list of largest universities by enrollment includes total active enrollment across all campuses . Enrollment numbers listed are the sum of undergraduate and graduate students in active enrollment...
Allama Iqbal Open UniversityAllama Iqbal Open University AIOU, founded in 1974, when founded was the 2nd biggest University in the world, 1st in Asia and Pakistan.-History:...
is located in Islamabad. The two top engineering universities in Pakistan,
Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied SciencesPakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences is located at Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences started as a small manpower training facility, known as Reactor School in 1967, which was set up by Dr. I.H.Usmani. In 1976 it was upgraded by Mr...
and
National University of Science and TechnologyNational University of Sciences and Technology, commonly known by its acronym NUST, is a public university that was primarily founded by the Government of Pakistan in 1991 to train members of the Pakistan Armed Forces after merging together previously established military institutes and...
also have their headquarters in the capital.
Quaid-i-Azam UniversityQuaid-i-Azam University is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan.One of the best public sector universities in Pakistan, it was founded as the University of Islamabad in 1965...
in Islamabad is the top ranked university in Pakistan in general category. Other notable universities include Air University,
National University of Computer and Emerging SciencesNational University of Computer and Emerging Sciences is a University in Pakistan with headquarters at Islamabad and campuses at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar...
, COMSATS,
Hamdard UniversityHamdard University is located in Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Hamdard University was founded by Hakim Said of Hamdard Foundation in 1991.Hamdard University is Largest University according to area in private sector universities in Pakistan spread on...
,
National Defence UniversityNational Defence University may refer to:*Finnish National Defence University.*Zrinyi Miklos National Defence University, Hungary.*National Defence College, India.*National Security College of the Israel Defense Forces....
,
Shifa College of MedicineShifa College of Medicine is a medical school located in Islamabad, Pakistan and affiliated with Bahria University. The school was founded in 1999 by the Shifa Foundation, an organization developed by American-Pakistani physicians, with the intention of creating an institution which imparted...
,
National University of Modern LanguagesNational University of Modern Languages is located at Islamabad, Pakistan. The university began as an institute in 1970 to help people communicate and understand each other in different languages, to assimilate different cultures and to act as a springboard for emerging disciplines. At present it...
, International Islamic University, and Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering.
In 2006-2007, the
Federal GovernmentThe Ministry of Education is a federal government agency in Pakistan. The ministry is headed by the Education Minister of Pakistan. Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani is the current Federal Education Minister of Pakistan and Mr.Ghulam Farid Kathia is a Federal Minister of State. Jahangir Bashar is the...
spent a total of 54,523.637 million Rs. on the education sector out of which 25,830.670 million was developmental fund. This amount is 25.18% of the total educational budget spend in that year, which was 216,518.059 million Rs. The public expenditure on education as percentage of total government expenditure that year was 14.09%.
Health care
Islamabad has a list of public and private medical centres. The largest hospital in Islamabad is
Pakistan Institute of Medical SciencesPakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Objectives of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences are to provide a tertiary level patient care and serve as referral hospital and also to conduct teaching and training of doctors and other health workers at various level...
hospital. It was established in 1985 as a teaching and doctor training institute. PIMS also functions as a National Reference Center and provides specialized diagnostic and curative services. The hospital has 30 major medical departments. PIMS is divided into five administrative branches. Islamabad Hospital is the major component with 592 bed facility and 22 medical and surgical specialities. Children Hospital is a 230 bedded hospital completed in 1985. It contains six major facilities; Surgical and Allied Specialities, Medical and Allied Specialties, Diagnostic Facilities, Operation Theatre, Critical Care (NICU, PICU, Isolation & Accident Emergency), and a Blood Bank. The Maternal and Child Health Care Center is a training institute with an attached hospital of 125 beds offering different clinical and operational services.
PIMS consists of five academic institutes; Quaid-i-Azam Postgraduate Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Medical Technology, School of Nursing, and Mother and Child Health Center.
PAEC General Hospital and teaching institute is affiliated with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and was established in 2006. The hospital consists of a 100 bed facility and 10 major departments;
ObstetricsObstetrics is the surgical specialty dealing with the care of women and their children during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal. Midwifery is the non-medical equivalent...
and Gynecology, Pediatric, General Medicine,
General SurgeryThis page is about the surgical specialty. For the goregrind band, see General Surgery
General surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, e.g...
,
Intensive Care Unitthumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive care unit , critical care unit , intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit is a specialized department used in many countries' hospitals that provides intensive care medicine...
/
Coronary Care UnitA coronary care unit is a hospital ward specialized in the care of patients with heart attacks, unstable angina and various other cardiac conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment.-Characteristics:...
, Orthopedics,
OphthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, hairs, and areas surrounding the eye, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids. The term ophthalmologist is an eye specialist for medical and surgical problems...
,
PathologyPathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, bodily fluids, and whole bodies...
,
RadiologyRadiology is the branch or specialty of medicine that deals with the study and application of imaging technology like x-ray and radiation to diagnosing and treating disease....
, and
DentalThe word dental is used for things pertaining to teeth and could refer to:* Dentistry, a medical profession**Dental Auxiliary*** Dental hygienist, a licensed practitioner*** Dental technician...
Department.
Shifa International Hospital is also a teaching hospital in Islamabad that was founded in 1987 and
publicizedA publicly-traded company is a company that has permission to offer its registered securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or occasionally a company whose stock is traded over the counter via market makers who use non-exchange quotation services.-Securities...
in 1989. The hospital has 70 qualified consultants in almost all specialities, 150 IPD beds and OPD facilities in 35 different specializations.
According to Federal Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan, in 2008 there were 12 hospitals, 76 dispensaries, and 5 Maternity and Child Welfare Centers in the city with total 5,158 beds.
Transport
Islamabad is connected to the major destinations around the world through "
Benazir Bhutto International AirportBenazir Bhutto International Airport or Chaklala Airbase is the third largest airport in Pakistan, it is located in Rawalpindi, Punjab. It was previously known as Islamabad International Airport but was renamed after Benazir Bhutto by PM Yusuf Raza Gillani on Friday, 21 June 2008.The airport is...
" previously known as Islamabad International Airport. The airport is the third largest in Pakistan and is located outside Islamabad, in Chaklala, Rawalpindi. In fiscal year 2004-2005, over 2.88 million passengers used Benazir Bhutto International Airport and 23,436 aircraft movements were registered.
Another airport,
New Islamabad International AirportThe New Islamabad International Airport is a 3,600 acre international airport that is being built to serve the capital city of Islamabad, nearby city of Rawalpindi other areas around the capital of Pakistan. This airport will replace the existing one located in Rawalpindi. This new airport is...
is under construction to cope with the increasing number of passengers. When completed, the airport will be the largest in Pakistan. The airport will be built at a cost of $400 million and will be operational by 2010. This will be the first green field airport in Pakistan with an area of .
All major cities and towns are accessible through regular trains and bus services running mostly from the neighbouring city of
Rawalpindi' Rāwalpindī) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. Locally known as Pindi, the area was home to the pre-historic Soanian culture indigenous to...
which is considered a gateway town between north and south.
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. Historically the main city of the undivided Punjab, it is often called the Garden of Mughals because of its rich Mughal heritage...
and
Peshawar' onMouseout='HidePop("88507")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/M2_motorway_(Pakistan)"> M-2 Motorway
The M-2 is a motorway in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is 367 km long and connects Lahore with Islamabad. It passes through Kala shah kaku, Sheikhupura, Khanqah Dogran,Kot Sarwar, Pindi Bhattian, Salem, Lilla, Kot Momin, Kallar Kahar, Balksar, and Chakri before ending just outside the twin...
is 367 km long and connect Islamabad and Lahore.
M-1 MotorwayThe M1 is a motorway in Punjab and NWFP, Pakistan. It is 175 km long, with 67 km in Punjab and the remaining 108 km in NWFP. It has become a vital link to Afghanistan and Central Asia and is expected to take much traffic off the highly used N5....
connects Islamabad with Peshawar and is 155 km long. Islamabad is linked to its sister city Rawalpindi through the Faizabad Interchange, the first
cloverleaf interchangeA cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns are handled by loop roads...
in Pakistan with a daily traffic volume of about 48,000 vehicles.
Sister Cities
Following cities have twin city relationships with Islamabad.
- Amman
Amman , sometimes spelled Ammann , is the capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a city of 2,525,000 inhabitants , and the administrative capital and commercial center of Jordan. It is also the largest city in Jordan. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world...
, JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
, March 19, 1989
- Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2007 the city had a population of 4,751,360, which includes eight districts under the city's administration...
, TurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey
, is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe...
, 1982
- Beijing
Beijing is a metropolis in northern China and the capital of the People's Republic of China...
, ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
, October 8, 1993
- Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea. With a population of over 10 million, it is one of the world's largest cities. The Seoul National Capital Area, which includes the major port city of Incheon and most of Gyeonggi-do, has 24.5 million...
, South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
, Announced November 7, 2008
See also
- Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
- Daman-e-Koh
Daman-e-Koh is a popular viewing point in Islamabad. Its name is a conjunction of two words: Daman, which means center and Koh, which means hill. Daman-e-Koh therefore meaning center of the mountain. It can also be interpreted as hem of the mountain.The viewpoint is located north of Islamabad in...
- a view point above Islamabad
- Pir Sohawa
Pir Sohawa is an upland scenic rural location, popular for recreational walking and picnics, in the Margalla Hills near Islamabad, Pakistan. It presents a breathtaking view of Islamabad....
- a small hamlet on the Margalla Hills
- Margalla Hills National Park
The Margalla Hills National Park is located in Northern Pakistan at the foothills of the Himalayas and is a National Park. It is approximately 17,386 hectares in size.-Location:...
- Birds of Islamabad
Here is a list of birds found in Islamabad, Pakistan. 76 species of birds have been found in this area. The best places to watch are Margalla Hills and Rawal Lake.*Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis*Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger...
External links