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Islamabad

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Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan.

Islamabad skyline
Islamabad skyline

It sits on the Pothohar Plateau at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The city is part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. It is located north of the large city of Rawalpindi. Together, these two places are often called the Twin Cities.

Islamabad map
Islamabad map

A huge metropolitan area of over 5.7 million people lives in both cities. Islamabad is the tenth-most populous city in the country. It has a population of over 1.1 million people. The metropolitan population is even larger at over 2.3 million.

Islamabad Zone Map
Islamabad Zone Map

The city was built as a planned city during the 1960s. A Greek architect named Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis created the master plan. He designed the city using a triangular grid shape. The plan divided the city into eight different zones. These include areas for homes, schools, and businesses. There are also special zones for diplomats and industry.

Some areas are green and rural. Other parts are for living or for working. The city was established in 1967 to replace Karachi as the capital.

Islamabad - Faisal Mosque
Islamabad - Faisal Mosque

The land around Islamabad has a very long history. People lived on the Pothohar Plateau many thousands of years ago. Some stone tools from the Stone Age were found there. People from the Indus Valley civilisation lived in this region too. Later, many famous leaders and armies crossed through this area. In the 1950s, a group was formed to find a new capital. They wanted a place with a good climate and easy access. They chose this area because it was near the army headquarters.

Faisal mosque on the eve of 27th Ramadan
Faisal mosque on the eve of 27th Ramadan

Islamabad has many famous landmarks and beautiful sights. The Faisal Mosque is a very large and important building.

Dewan Masjid Islamabad
Dewan Masjid Islamabad

You can also see the Pakistan Monument and Democracy Square. The city is known for its many parks and forests. The Margalla Hills National Park is a large green space.

Margalla Hills Islamabad
Margalla Hills Islamabad

There are also more than twenty universities here. Students go to places like NUST or Quaid-e-Azam University. The city is also known for being quite safe.

Margalla Hills Islamabad
Margalla Hills Islamabad

The weather in Islamabad changes through five different seasons. These are winter, spring, summer, the rainy monsoon, and autumn. It can get very hot in June.

Daman-E-Koh
Daman-E-Koh

July is the wettest month with heavy rain and thunderstorms. In the winter, the weather stays mild and sunny. You might see snow on the high peaks of the nearby hills.

The Red Metro Bus in Blue Area
The Red Metro Bus in Blue Area

People use the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus to travel between the cities. This bus system helps people move around the large metropolitan area easily.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Islamabad Metro Bus.JPG
Islamabad Metro Bus.JPG
File:Margalla_Hills_Islamabad.jpg
Margalla_Hills_Islamabad.jpg
File:Islamabad Zone Map.png
Islamabad Zone Map.png
File:Islamabad map.png
Islamabad map.png
File:Islamabad skyline.jpg
Islamabad skyline.jpg
File:Dewan Masjid Islamabad.jpg
Dewan Masjid Islamabad.jpg
File:F9 islamabad.jpg
F9 islamabad.jpg
File:Ufone and ISE Tower Islamabad.jpg
Ufone and ISE Tower Islamabad.jpg
File:Faisal mosque on the eve of 27th Ramadan.jpg
Faisal mosque on the eve of 27th Ramadan.jpg
File:Daman-E-Koh.jpg
Daman-E-Koh.jpg
File:Islamabad - Faisal Mosque.jpg
Islamabad - Faisal Mosque.jpg
File:Trail 3 Margalla Hills Islamabad.jpg
Trail 3 Margalla Hills Islamabad.jpg

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