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Islamabad

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Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan.

Islamabad skyline
Islamabad skyline

It serves as the administrative center for the nation. The city is part of the Islamabad Capital Territory, which is managed by the federal government. Islamabad is the tenth-most populous city in Pakistan. Its resident population exceeds 1.1 million people. When including the wider metropolitan area, the population is over 2.3 million.

Islamabad map
Islamabad map

The city sits on the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau. It is located at the foot of the Margalla Hills. To the south and southwest lies the large city of Rawalpindi. Together, these two urban areas form a conurbation known as the Twin Cities. This combined metropolitan area houses more than 5.7 million inhabitants.

The modern city was built as a planned capital during the 1960s.

Islamabad Zone Map
Islamabad Zone Map

Before this, Karachi served as the provisional national capital. However, Karachi was located at the southern end of the country by the Arabian Sea. Pakistan needed a capital that was easier to access from all regions. The new location was also closer to the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. In 1958, a commission was formed to find a suitable site. They looked for specific qualities like climate, logistics, and defense. In 1959, they recommended the area northeast of Rawalpindi.

The Greek architect Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis designed the master plan. He used a triangular grid layout with the apex pointing toward the Margalla Hills. This design allowed the city to be organized into distinct functional areas.

Islamabad is divided into several specific zones to manage its growth.

Islamabad Zone Map
Islamabad Zone Map

The Islamabad Capital Territory is split into eight administrative zones. These include the Administrative Zone, Commercial District, and Educational Sector. There are also zones for Industry, the Diplomatic Enclave, Residential Areas, Rural Areas, and Green Areas. Within the city itself, there are five major zones labeled Zone I through Zone V. Zone IV is the largest in terms of total area. The residential sectors are organized using a system of letters and numbers. Each sector covers about 2 km by 2 km. For example, the E-series sectors often house many foreign diplomats.

Ufone and ISE Tower Islamabad
Ufone and ISE Tower Islamabad

The region has a deep history that stretches back thousands of years. The Pothohar Plateau is one of the earliest sites of human settlement in Asia. Archaeologists have found Stone Age artifacts dating from 100,000 to 500,000 years ago. These include rudimentary stones found near the Soan River. Later, the Indus Valley civilization flourished here between the 23rd and 18th centuries BCE. The area was also home to Neolithic peoples around 5000 BCE. Over time, many famous armies crossed this land. These included the forces of Genghis Khan and Timur. In 2015, excavations near the Shah Allah Ditta caves revealed a Buddhist stupa. This structure dates back to between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE.

Islamabad is a center for education and modern infrastructure. The city is home to more than twenty universities. Notable institutions include NUST, Quaid-e-Azam University, and Bahria University.

NUST MainOffice
NUST MainOffice

The city is also known for being one of the safest in Pakistan. It uses an expansive surveillance system with nearly 2,000 active CCTV cameras. For transportation, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus connects the two cities.

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

This mass transit line was completed in March 2015. The project cost approximately Rs. 24 billion. It was a joint effort between the Federal government and the Punjab provincial government. This system helps manage the movement of people in the massive metropolitan area.

The landscape of Islamabad is defined by its greenery and landmarks.

Islamabad - Faisal Mosque
Islamabad - Faisal Mosque

The Faisal Mosque is the country's flagship landmark. Other important sites include the Pakistan Monument and Democracy Square.

F9 islamabad
F9 islamabad

Much of the city consists of parks and forests. The Margalla Hills National Park covers a large portion of the city.

Margalla Hills Islamabad
Margalla Hills Islamabad

The area also features the Shakarparian and the Loi Bher Forest. The city's climate is humid subtropical, featuring five distinct seasons. These are winter, spring, summer, the rainy monsoon, and autumn. June is the hottest month, while January is the coolest.

Daman-E-Koh
Daman-E-Koh

The monsoon season in July brings heavy rain and thunderstorms. This rainfall allows the hills to remain lush and green.

Islamabad connects to many different geographic and social systems. It sits near the Haripur District and the colonial hill station of Murree. The city's water supply is managed by several artificial reservoirs. These include the Rawal, Simli, and Khanpur dams.

Islamabad Highway From the 9th avenue bridge
Islamabad Highway From the 9th avenue bridge

These reservoirs help regulate the local micro-climate. The city also functions as a major hub for international diplomacy. Because of the Diplomatic Enclave, it hosts many global meetings. One example is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in 2004. This makes Islamabad a vital link between Pakistan and the rest of the world.

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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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