Islamabad the Capital

Islamabad  is the capital city of Pakistan , and is located in the Potohar Plateau in the northwest of the country. It is located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , though the area has historically been a part of the crossroads of the Punjab region and the North-West Frontier Province (the Margalla pass being a historic gateway to the North-West Frontier Province , and the Potwar Plateau historically a part of the Punjab). Islamabad is located at 33°40′N, 73°10′E .

The city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan 's capital . A Greek firm of architects, Doxiadis Associates, drew up a master plan, triangular in shape based on a grid system with its apex towards the Margalla Hills . Rawalpindi is considered its sister city due to the close proximity of the two cities.

This city was built for several reasons: The development of the country was focused on Karachi and President Ayub Khan wanted it to be equally distributed; Karachi was vulnerable to attack from the sea in an event of a war with India; and Islamabad by contrast is safely surrounded by the mountains. The climate in Islamabad is favourable compared to Karachi with lower average temperatures throughout the year. It was also closer to the GHQ which was, and still is in Rawalpindi.

Islamabad is a rather modern and clean city, especially in comparison to other cities in Pakistan . It is well-organized, with the city being divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad was divided into eight zones: the diplomatic enclave, the commercial district, the educational sector, the industrial area and so on, each with its own shopping area and park. Islamabad is also home to the Faisal Mosque which is well known for its architecture and immense size. The mosque was gifted by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia .