Capital city of Pakistan

Islamabad

The capital city of Pakistan which covers an area of 1,165.5 km² (450 mi²) of which 906 km² (349.8 mi²) is Islamabad proper. It is represented in the National Assembly by two constituencies, namely NA-48 and NA-49.

History

The land was acquired from the North-West Frontier Province and Punjab in 1960, for the purpose of establishing Pakistan's new capital. According to the 1960 master plan, the ICT included the city of Rawalpindi, and was to be utilized as following:

1. Rawalpindi; 259 km²
2. Islamabad Proper (including the institutional and industrial areas); 220.15 km²
3. Islamabad (Margalla Hills) Park; 220.15 km²
4. Islamabad Rural Area; 446.20 km²

However, the city of Rawalpindi was eventually excluded from ICT. The remainder of the territory is now subdivided into 5 zones, with zone I designated to house all the residential, industrial and government institutions. Punjab is located to the south of the ICT, and North-West Frontier Province is located to the north west.

Introduction

Islamabad was designed and built to be a modern capital for Pakistan. It is located amongst the Margalla Hills at the northern end of Potohar Plateau. It was established in 1960, on the orders of then President General Ayub Khan.

The capital is full of natural terraces and meadows, and covers the southern plain, which is drained by the Kurang River. The Margalla Hills lie to the north east of the ICT.

Area and population

The city is divided into eight basic zone types:

• Administrative zone;
• Diplomatic Enclave zone;
• Residential Areas;
• Educational Sectors;
• Industrial Sectors;
• Commercial Areas;
• Rural Areas;
• Green Areas

Each sector has its own shopping area, a green belt (which goes across the whole sector in a straight line) and public park. The population of the city is around 950,000 people of which 66% is urban. It is thus the most advanced region in Pakistan. It has an area of about 910 square kilometres. The city lies at latitudes 33° 49' north and longitudes 72° 24' east with altitudes ranging from 457 to 610 meters.

Climate

The average humidity level is 55%, with an average rainfall of 1450 millimeters each year. The maximum average temperature is 29°C and the minimum average temperature attained here during the year is generally around 11°C.

Education

Islamabad boasts the highest literacy rate in Pakistan at 72.38%.^[2] It has some of Pakistan's major universities, including Quaid-i-Azam University, the International Islamic University, and the National University of Sciences and Technology.

Quaid-e-Azam University offers courses in a number of subjects. The institute is located in a semi-hilly area, east of the Secretariat buildings and near the base of Margala Hills. This Post-Graduate institute is spread over 1,500 acres (6 km²). Major buildings of the campus have been designed in such a way as to form an axial spine with the library in the center.

Other universities situated in Islamabad, other than those mentioned above, include the following:

• Air University
• Al-Huda University
• Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) distance education university covering all Pakistan and AJK
• Bahria University
• Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE)
• COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT)
• Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST)
• Hamdard University
• National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences(FAST-NUCES)
• National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
• Institute of Space Technology
• Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP)
• Iqra University
• Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS)
• Riphah International University
• Shifa College of Medicine
• Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST)

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