The nameIslamabad meansCity of Islam. It is derived from two words;Islam andabad. The Arabic wordIslam means "submission [to God]" as it refers to the religion ofIslam, Pakistan'sstate religion, and thePersian suffix-abad meanscultivated place, indicating an inhabited place or city.[17] During the course of early modern period, the name was used in theMughal era, by the emperorAurangzeb who named many towns in the Indian subcontinent after it.[18][c] According to a history book byMuhammad Ismail Zabeeh, teacher and poetQazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari proposed the name of the city.[20][21]
Islamabad Capital Territory, located on thePothohar Plateau of the northernPunjab region, is considered one of the earliest sites of human settlement in Asia. Some of the earliestStone Age artefacts in the world have been found on the plateau, dating from 100,000 to 500,000 years ago. Rudimentary stones recovered from the terraces of theSoan River testify to the endeavours of early man in theinter-glacial period.[22] Items of pottery and utensils dating back to prehistory have been found.[23]
Excavations by Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Lone reveal evidence of a prehistoric culture in the area. Relics and human skulls have been found dating back to 5000 BCE that indicate the region was home toNeolithic peoples who settled on the banks of the Soan[24] and who later developed small communities in the region around 3000 BCE.[22][25]
TheIndus Valley civilisation flourished in the region between the 23rd and 18th centuries BCE. Later the area was an early settlement of theAryan communitywhich migrated into the region fromCentral Asia.[24] Many great armies such as those ofZahiruddin Babur,Genghis Khan,Timur andAhmad Shah Durrani crossed the region during their invasions of theIndian subcontinent.[24][26] In 2015–16, the Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums, with the financial support of National Fund for Cultural Heritage, carried out initial archaeological excavations and unearthed the remains of a Buddhist stupa at Ban Faqiran, near theShah Allah Ditta caves. The stupa was dated to between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE.[27]
When Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the southern port city ofKarachi was its provisional national capital. In 1958, a commission was constituted to select a suitable site nearRawalpindi for the national capital with particular emphasis on location, climate, logistics, and defence requirements, along with other attributes. After extensive study, research, and a thorough review of potential sites, the commission recommended the area northeast of Rawalpindi in 1959 which was used as provisional capital from that year on.[28][29] In the 1960s, Islamabad was constructed as aforward capital for several reasons.[30] Karachi was also located at the southern end of the country along theArabian Sea. Pakistan needed a capital that was easily accessible from all parts of the country.[28][31] Karachi, a business centre, was also considered unsuitable partly because of intervention of business interests in government affairs.[32] The newly selected location of Islamabad was closer to thearmy headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Pakistani-administered sectors of the disputedKashmir in the north.[24]
A Greek firm of architects, led byKonstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis, designed the master plan of the city based on agrid plan which was triangular in shape with its apex towards theMargalla Hills. Islamabad was touted by Pakistani legislators as their counterpart toChandigarh, whosemodernism they envied and with which it shares conceptual similarities.[33] The capital was not moved directly from Karachi to Islamabad; it was first shifted temporarily to Rawalpindi in the early 1960s and then to Islamabad when essential development work was completed in 1966.[34] In 1981, Islamabad separated from Punjab province to form Capital Territory. Such world-renowned architects asEdward Durell Stone andGio Ponti have been associated with the city's development.[7]
Islamabad has attracted people from all over Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanised cities of Pakistan. As the capital city it has hosted numerous important meetings, such as theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in 2004.[35]
The city suffered damage from the2005 Kashmir earthquake which had a magnitude of 7.6.[36] Islamabad has experienced a series of terrorist incidents including the July 2007Siege of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), the June 2008Danish embassy bombing, and the September 2008Marriott bombing.[37] In 2011, four terrorist incidents occurred in the city, killing four people, including the murder of the Punjab GovernorSalmaan Taseer.[38]
Construction of theRawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus, the region's first mass transit line, began in February 2014 and was completed in March 2015. The Rawalpindi Development Authority built the project at a cost of approximately Rs. 24 billion, which was shared by both the Federal government and the provincial government of Punjab.[39]
Satellite view of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area withMargalla Hills in the north.
Margalla Hills, Islamabad
Islamabad's verdant cityscape merges with the Margalla Hills
Islamabad's lush landscape
Islamabad's deciduous trees change colours in autumn
Islamabad lies about 540 metres (1,770 ft) above sea level at the northern edge of thePothohar Plateau and at the foot of the Margalla Hills inIslamabad Capital Territory.[40][41] The modern capital and the ancientGakhar city of Rawalpindi form aconurbation and are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities.[42][32]
Islamabad covers an area of 906 square kilometres (350 sq mi).[43] A further 2,717 square kilometres (1,049 sq mi) 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 theKurang River, on which theRawal Dam is located.[7]
Islamabad's annual precipitation allows for the growth of lush forests in the city's hills.
Islamabad has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa), with five seasons: Winter (November–February), Spring (March and April), Summer (May and June), Rainy Monsoon (July and August) and Autumn (September and October). The hottest month is June, where average highs routinely exceed 38 °C (100.4 °F). The wettest month is July, with heavy rainfalls and eveningthunderstorms with the possibility ofcloudburst and flooding. The coolest month is January.
Islamabad'smicro-climate is regulated by three artificial reservoirs:Rawal,Simli, andKhanpur Dam. The latter is located on theHaro River near the town ofKhanpur, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Islamabad. Simli Dam is 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Islamabad. 220 acres (89 ha) of the city consists ofMargalla Hills National Park. Loi Bher Forest is situated along theIslamabad Highway, covering an area of 1,087 acres (440 ha).[44] The highest monthly rainfall of 743.3 mm (29.26 in) was recorded during July 1995.[45] Winters generally feature dense fog in the mornings and sunny afternoons. In the city, temperatures stay mild, with snowfall over the higher-elevation points on nearby hill stations, notablyMurree andNathia Gali. The temperatures range from 13 °C (55 °F) in January to 38 °C (100 °F) in June. The highest recorded temperature was 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) on 23 June 2005 while the lowest temperature was −6.0 °C (21.2 °F) on 17 January 1967.[46][47] Light snowfall sometimes happens on the peaks of the hills visible from the city, though this is rare.[48] Snowfall does not occur in the city itself. On 23 July 2001, Islamabad received a record-breaking 620 mm (24 in) of rainfall in just 10 hours. It was the heaviest rainfall in Islamabad in the past 100 years and the highest rainfall in 24 hours as well.[49][50] Water supply is strained, leading to project proposals like theGhazi Barotha water supply project.
The local government authority of the city is theIslamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) with some help from Capital Development Authority (CDA), which oversees the planning, development, construction, and administration of the city.[55][56] Islamabad Capital Territory is divided into eight zones: Administrative Zone, Commercial District, Educational Sector, Industrial Sector, Diplomatic Enclave, Residential Areas, Rural Areas and Green Area.[57] 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.[58] Zone I consists mainly of all the developed residential sectors while Zone II consists of the under-developed residential sectors. Each residential sector is identified by a letter of the alphabet and a number, and covers an area of approximately 2 km × 2 km (1+1⁄4 mi ×1+1⁄4 mi). The sectors are lettered from A to I, and each sector is divided into four numbered sub-sectors.[59]
The five zones and sectors of IslamabadThe two major mosques of the city (Faisal Mosque andLal Masjid)
Series A, B, and C are still underdeveloped. The D series has seven sectors (D-11 to D-17),[58] of which only sector D-12 is completely developed. This series is located at the foot of Margalla Hills.[57] The E Sectors are named from E-7 to E-17.[58] Many foreigners and diplomatic personnel are housed in these sectors.[57] In the revised Master Plan of the city, CDA has decided to develop a park on the pattern ofFatima Jinnah Park in sector E-14. Sectors E-8 and E-9 contain the campuses ofBahria University,Air University, and theNational Defence University.[60][61][62] The F and G series contains the most developed sectors. F series contains sectors F-5 to F-17; some sectors are still under-developed.[58] F-5 is an important sector for the software industry in Islamabad, as the two software technology parks are located here. The entire F-9 sector is covered with Fatima Jinnah Park. TheCentaurus complex is a major landmark of the F-8 sector.[57] G sectors are numbered G-5 through G-17.[58] Some important places include theJinnah Convention Centre andSerena Hotel in G-5, theLal Masjid in G-6, thePakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the largest medical complex in the capital, located in G-8,[57] and the Karachi Company shopping center in G-9.
The H sectors are numbered H-8 through H-17.[58] The H sectors are mostly dedicated to educational and health institutions.National University of Sciences and Technology covers a major portion of sector H-12.[57] The I sectors are numbered from I-8 to I-18. With the exception of I-8, which is a well-developed residential area, these sectors are primarily part of the industrial zone. Two sub-sectors of I-9 and one sub-sector ofI-10 are used as industrial areas. CDA is planning to set up Islamabad Railway Station in Sector I-18 and Industrial City in sector I-17.[57] Zone III consists primarily of the Margalla Hills andMargalla Hills National Park.Rawal Lake is in this zone. Zone IV and V consist of Islamabad Park, and rural areas of the city. TheSoan River flows into the city through Zone V.[58]
When the master plan for Islamabad was drawn up in 1960, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, along with the adjoining areas, was to be integrated to form a largemetropolitan area called Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area. The area would consist of the developing Islamabad, the old colonial cantonment city of Rawalpindi, and Margalla Hills National Park, including surrounding rural areas.[63][64] However, Islamabad city is part of theIslamabad Capital Territory, whileRawalpindi is part ofRawalpindi District, which is part of province ofPunjab.[65]
Initially, it was proposed that the three areas would be connected by four major highways: Murree Highway,Islamabad Highway, Soan Highway, and Capital Highway. However, to date only two highways have been constructed:Kashmir Highway (the former Murree Highway) and Islamabad Highway.[64] Plans of constructing Margalla Avenue are also underway.[66] 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 interdependent.[63]
Islamabad's architecture is a combination of modernity and oldIslamic and regional traditions. The Saudi-Pak Tower is an 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 includePakistan Monument andFaisal Mosque. Other notable structures are: Secretariat Complex designed byGio Ponti, Prime Minister's secretariat based onMughal architecture and theNational Assembly byEdward Durell Stone.[29]
The murals on the inside of the large petals of Pakistan Monument are based on Islamic architecture.[67] The Shah Faisal Mosque is a fusion of contemporary architecture with a more traditional large triangular prayer hall and four minarets, designed byVedat Dalokay, a Turkish architect and built with the help of funding provided byKing Faisal ofSaudi Arabia.[68] The architecture of Faisal Mosque is unusual as it lacks a dome structure. It is a combination of Arabic, Turkish, and Mughal architectural traditions.[69]The Centaurus is an example of modern architecture in Islamabad. The seven star hotel was designed byWS Atkins PLC.Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers is another example of modern architecture in the city.[70]
According to2023 Pakistani census, there are 1,154,540 Punjabi, 415,838 Pashto, 358,922 Urdu, 140,780 Hindko, 51,920 Kashmiri, 46,270 Saraiki, 21,362 Sindhi, 10,315 Balti, 7,099 Shina, 5,016 Koshistani, 4,503 Balochi, 1,095 Mewati, 668 Brahvi, 182 Kalasha and 64,734 others, of total 2,283,244 speakers inIslamabad Capital Territory.
Literacy
As of 2010, 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; 37.90% is below the age of 15.[75] Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan, at 88%.[76] 9.8% of the population has done intermediate education (equivalent to grades 11 and 12). 10.26% have a bachelor or equivalent degree while 5.2% have a master or equivalent degree.[77] The labour force of Islamabad is 185,213[78] and the unemployment rate is 15.70%.[79]
In theIslamabad Capital Territory,Islam is the largest religion in the city, with 95.55% of the population following it.Christianity is the second largest religion, with 4.26% of the population following it. The Christians are concentrated mainly in the urban areas.Hinduism is followed by 0.04% of the population according to the 2023 census.[80][81]
Islamabad is a net contributor to the Pakistani economy, as whilst having only 0.8% of the country's population, it contributes 1% to the country's GDP.[82]Islamabad Stock Exchange, founded in 1989, is Pakistan's third largest stock exchange afterKarachi Stock Exchange andLahore Stock Exchange, and was merged to formPakistan Stock Exchange. The exchange had 118 members with 104corporate bodies and 18 individual members. The average daily turnover of the stock exchange is over 1 million shares.[83]
According to theWorld Bank'sDoing Business Report of 2010, Islamabad was ranked as the best place to start a business in Pakistan.[84] Islamabad's businesses are Pakistan's most compliant for paying tax dues.[85] As of 2012[update], Islamabad LTU (Large Tax Unit) was responsible for Rs 371 billion in tax revenue, which amounts to 20% of all the revenue collected by Federal Board of Revenue.[86]
Islamabad has seen an expansion ininformation and communications technology with the addition twoSoftware Technology Parks, which house numerous national and foreign technological and information technology companies. Awami Markaz IT Park houses 36IT companies, while Evacuee Trust house 29 companies.[87] Islamabad saw its third IT Park in 2020, which was built with assistance fromSouth Korea.[88]
Islamabad is home to many settlers from other regions of Pakistan and has a cultural and religious diversity of considerable antiquity. Due to its location on the Pothohar Plateau, remnants of ancient cultures and civilisations such asAryan,Soanian, andIndus Valley civilisation can still be found in the region.Pharwala Fort, built byGakhars in the 15th century, is located near Islamabad.[89] The 16th-centuryRawat Fort, also built by the Gakhars, contains the grave of their chiefSultan Sarang Khan.[89]
Saidpur village is supposedly named after Said Khan, the son of Sarang Khan. The 500-year-old village was converted into a place of Hindu worship by a Mughal commander, RajaMan Singh. He constructed a number of small ponds: Rama kunda, Sita kunda, Lakshaman kunda, and Hanuman kunda.[90] The region is home to a small Hindu temple that is preserved, showing the presence of Hindu people in the region. The shrine of Sufi mysticPir Meher Ali Shah is located atGolra Sharif, which has a rich cultural heritage of the pre-Islamic period. Archaeological remains of the Buddhist era can also still be found in the region. The shrine ofBari Imam was built by the Mughal emperorAurangzeb. Thousands of devotees from across Pakistan attend the annualUrs 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.[91]
TheLok Virsa Museum in Islamabad preserves a wide variety of expressions of folk and traditional cultural legacy of Pakistan. It is located near theShakarparian hills and boasts a large display of embroidered costumes, jewellery, musical instruments, woodwork, utensils and folkloristic objects from the region and other parts of Pakistan.[citation needed]
TheFaisal Mosque, built in 1986, is an iconic cultural and religious landmark that attracts many tourists; both domestic and international due to its modern interpertation of Islamic architecture designed by the Turkish architectVedat Dalokay,[92] as well as its location at the foothills of theMargalla Hills. The mosque was named afterFaisal bin Abdul Aziz, the then-King of Saudi Arabia to honour him for his role in financing the construction of the mosque. The mosque itself can host up to 74,000 worshippers at a time[93] and its interior is decorated withIslamic calligraphy of verses from theQuran.
One of the landmarks for tourists is thePakistan Monument built in 2007 located in Islamabad. This tourist attraction represents the patriotism and sovereignty of Pakistan. The design is shaped as a dome with petal-shaped walls that are engraved with arts portraying Pakistan's other tourist landmarks such as theBadshahi Mosque,Minar-e-Pakistan andLahore Fort.
Islamabad holds some of Pakistan's most prestigious museums such as Lok Virsa Museum, Institute of Folk and Traditional HeritageShakarparian Park and prominent galleries such as theNational Art Gallery and Gallery 6.
The Islamabad Museum contains many relics and artifacts dating back to theGandhara period of the region, an intriguing fusion of Buddhist and Graeco-Roman styles. The living culture of Islamabad and Pakistan is best explored atLok Virsa Museum, as well as the Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage inShakarparian Park.
Islamabad is built upon civilisation and architecture that ranges from the 10th century to the modern era. As Islamabad is situated on thePotohar Plateau, the remains of civilisation descending from stone-age era include the Acheulian and the Soanian traditions and these are tourist landmarks. Islamabad has an array of historic landmarks that reflect the Hindu civilisation that dates back to the 16th Century with examples such asSaidpur. Saidpur that is situated in Islamabad has progressed from a village to a sacred place that includes temples where the Hindu Mughal Commanders worshipped.[94]
Margalla Hills National Park is located in the North sector of Islamabad and is in close proximity to theHimalayas. The National Park is home to a range of wildlife, includingHimalayan goral, Barking deer andleopards. Margalla Hills National Park also has accommodation and camping grounds for tourists.[citation needed]
Recreation
Faisal Mosque as seen from Margalla Hills
Located in the city, theFaisal Mosque is the largest mosque in South Asia and the sixth–largest mosque in the world. Built in the year 1986, it was named after the late king ofSaudi Arabia, Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, who backed and financed the construction.
Trail 3 Islamabad
The most famous and oldest hiking track of Islamabad is Trail 3. It starts from the Margalla Road in sector F-6/3. Due to steep hills, the trail is exhausting to some extent. The course leads to the point where it goes up to the Viewpoint and is about a 30–50 minutes track. After the Viewpoint it continues for another easy-going 45 – 60 minutes and reaches the Pir Sohawa, where there are two restaurants for food,The Monal andLa Montana. In total, it is approximately a one-hour and thirty minute walk.[95]
Shah Allah Ditta village is a centuries-old village and a union council of the Islamabad Capital Authority. The village is named after a dervish who belonged to the Mughal era. It is estimated to be 650 years old approximately. It is also home to ancient caves that reflects the previous civilisations. The 2500-year-old Buddhist caves at the foot of Margalla Hills are located in west of Taxila, east of Islamabad and in the central area of Khanpur. A spring, a pond and a garden still exist near the Shah Allah Ditta Caves. There are some banyan trees in the garden, while all other fruit trees are gone. The water from the same spring was used to irrigate the garden adjoining the caves. During the Mughal period, when India was the centre of Sufism originating from Arabia and Central Asia, a saint named Shah Allah Ditta stayed in this garden and was entombed here. The place formerly attributed to sadhus, monks, or jogis is today known for the famous Sufi Shah Allah Ditta. A short distance from these caves is also an ancient baoli (stepwell) in the village of Kanthila, which is said to have been built bySher Shah Suri.[96]
Islamabad is connected to major destinations around the world and domestically throughIslamabad International Airport (IIAP).[97] The airport is the largest in Pakistan and is located south-west of Islamabad. The new airport inaugurated on 20 April 2018, spreads over 19 square kilometers with 15 passenger boarding bridges. It also includes facilities to accommodate two double-decker Airbus A380s, 15 remote bays and 3 remote bays for Air cargo.[97]
M-2 Motorway is 367 km (228 mi) long and connects Islamabad andLahore.[102]M-1 Motorway connects Islamabad with Peshawar and is 155 km (96 mi) long.[102] Islamabad is linked to Rawalpindi through theFaizabad Interchange, which has a daily traffic volume of about 48,000 vehicles.[103]
As of 2010, Islamabad boasts the highest literacy rate in Pakistan at 98%,[76] and has some of the most advanced educational institutes in the country.[104] A large number ofpublic andprivate sector educational institutes are present here. The higher education institutes in the capital are either federally chartered or administered by private organisations and almost all of them are recognised by theHigher Education Commission of Pakistan. High schools and colleges are either affiliated with theFederal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education or with theUK universities education boards, O/A Levels, orIGCSE. According to the Academy of Educational Planning and Management's report, in 2009 there were a total of 913 recognised institutions in Islamabad (31 pre-primary, 2religious, 367 primary, 162middle, 250 high, 75 higher secondary and intermediate colleges, and 26degree colleges).[105] There are seventeacher training institutes in Islamabad with a total enrolment of 604,633 students and 499 faculty.[105]
In 2008, Islamabad had the lowest rate of infant mortality in the country at 38 deaths per thousand compared to the national average of 78 deaths per thousand.[107] Islamabad has both public and private medical centres. The largest hospital in Islamabad isPakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital. It was established in 1985 as a teaching and doctor training institute. PIMS functions as a National Reference Center and provides specialised diagnostic and curative services.[108] The hospital has 30 major medical departments.[109] PIMS is divided into five administrative branches. Islamabad Hospital is the major component with a 592-bed facility and 22 medical and surgical specialties.[110]
The Children's Hospital is a 230-bed hospital completed in 1985. It contains six major facilities: Surgical and Allied Specialties, Medical and Allied Specialties, Diagnostic Facilities, Operation Theatre, Critical Care (NICU, PICU, Isolation & Accident Emergency), and a Blood Bank.[111] The Maternal and Child Health Care Center is a training institute with an attached hospital of 125 beds offering different clinical and operational services.[112] PIMS consists of five academic institutes: Quaid-e-Azam Postgraduate Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Medical Technology, School of Nursing, and Mother and Child Health Center.[113]
PAEC General Hospital and teaching institute, established in 2006, is affiliated with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.[114] The hospital consists of a 100-bed facility[114] and 10 major departments:Obstetrics andGynecology,Pediatric,General Medicine,General Surgery,Intensive Care Unit/Coronary Care Unit,Orthopedics,Ophthalmology,Pathology,Radiology, andDental Department.[115] Shifa International Hospital is a teaching hospital in Islamabad that was founded in 1987 and became a public company in 1989. The hospital has 70 qualified consultants in almost all specialties, 150IPD beds andOPD facilities in 35 different specialisations.[116] According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics of the Government of Pakistan, in 2008 there were 12 hospitals, 76dispensaries, and five maternity and child welfare centers in the city with a total of 5,158 beds.[117]
Islamabad has a multipurpose sports complex oppositeAabpara. It includes Liaquat Gymnasium for indoor games, Mushaf Squash Complex andJinnah Sports Stadium for outdoor games, which is a venue for regular national and international events.2004 SAF Games were held in the stadium. Some other sports venues of Islamabad includeDiamond Club Ground, Shalimar Cricket Ground and Islamabad Golf Club.
There is another multipurpose sports complex in the F6 Markaz. It has tennis courts, a basketball court with fibre-glass boards and aFutsal ground which introduced artificial turf to the people of Islamabad.
^This figure indicates the urban population of the Islamabad Tehsil.
^Administrator system was implemented for 6 months before next local bodies election andDeputy Commissioner of Islamabad was given additional charge as administrator in absence of mayor on 28 October 2021.[2]
^"Islāmābād, the name given by the emperor Awrangzīb [q.v.] to several towns in India, for reasons not precisely known... Of theseČittāgong ..., at the head of the Bay of Bengal, is still known occasionally in religious circles as Islāmābād, the official name remaining the original Čittāgong.Mathurā, on the river Yamunā,... was given the name Islāmābād...Amantnāg in the Kashmir valley... also received the name Islāmābād and is still known to the Muslims of the area by this name...The fort of Čākana, near Poona, ...was named Islāmābād after it had been taken by Awrangzīb’s general..."[19]
^Heath, John E. (2017).Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Place Names (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-255646-2....the Pakistanis chose 'City of Islam' from the Arabic islām 'submission to God' and ābād. The city became the capital in 1967 and the area around it is known as the Federal Capital Area. Aurangzeb (1618–1707), Mughal emperor (1658–1707), gave this name to several towns in India.
^Butt, M. J., Waqas, A., Iqbal, M, F., Muhammad., G., and Lodhi, M. A. K., 2011, "Assessment of Urban Sprawl of Islamabad Metropolitan Area Using Multi-Sensor and Multi-Temporal Satellite Data."Arabian Journal For Science and Engineering. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1007/s13369-011-0148-3.
^"Islamabad Climate Normals 1991–2020".World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved17 September 2023.
^Sheikh, Iqbal M.; Van S. Williams; S. Qamer Raza; Kanwar S.A. Khan."Environmental Geology of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Area, Northern Pakistan"(PDF).Regional Studies of the Potwar Plateau Area, Northern Pakistan. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.Archived(PDF) from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved28 August 2009.
^"Doing Business in Islamabad".Doing Business. Doing Business (World Bank). 2010.Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved25 December 2017.
^Charles S. Benson (1972)."New Cities and Educational Planning". In Dennis L. Roberts (ed.).Planning Urban Education: New Techniques to Transform Learning in the City. Educational Technology Publications. p. 111.ISBN978-0877780243. Retrieved3 July 2012.
^Arran, John (2012)."A Guide to Climbing in Margalla"(PDF).Rock Climbing Islamabad. Pakistan Alpine Institute. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 22 October 2013. Retrieved12 October 2013.
^"Twin towns of Minsk". Computer Centre of Minsk City Executive Committee. 2008. Archived fromthe original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved8 December 2008.
.jpg)
