History Of Islamabad
History of Islamabad
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This article is about the city of Islamabad. For other uses, see Islamabad (disambiguation).
Islamabad (/ɪzˈlɑːməˌbɑːd/; Urdu: اسلام آباد, Islāmābād, Urdu pronunciation: [ɪsˌlɑːmɑˈbɑːd̪]) is the capital city ofPakistan located within the Islamabad Capital Territory. It has a population of 2 million[3] and together with its neighboring twin city of Rawalpindi, the greater Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area is the third largest in Pakistan with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants.[4]
Since its foundation, Islamabad has attracted people from all over Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanized cities of Pakistan. As the national capital, Islamabad is the seat of the Government of Pakistan; the Presidential Palace (Aiwan-e-Sadr) is located here. Islamabad is also home to the Pakistan Monument, which is one of the two national monuments of Pakistan. Islamabad hosts a large number of foreign diplomats, politicians and government employees. The Capital Development Authority is responsible for managing the public works within the city.
Islamabad is located in the Pothohar Plateau in the northeastern part of the country, within the Islamabad Capital Territory. The region has historically been a part of the crossroads of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwawith the Margalla Pass acting as the gateway between the two regions.[5] The city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital. Islamabad is a well-organised international city divided into several different sectors and zones. It is regarded as the most developed city in Pakistan and is ranked as a Gamma+ world city.[6]
The city is home to the Faisal Mosque, the largest mosque in South Asia[7] and the fourth largest mosque in the world.[8][9] Islamabad has one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan.[10] There are 16 recognized universities in Islamabad, including Air University (Pakistan Air Force), Quaid-i-Azam University and theNational University of Sciences and Technology.[11] Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad is one of theworld's largest universities by enrollment.
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[hide]| Islamabad اسلام آباد | |
|---|---|
| Capital city | |
| Islamabad | |
From top, left to right: Faisal Mosque, Serena Hotel, Prime Minister's Secretariat, Parliament House,Faisal Mosque, and Pakistan Monument
| |
 
Islamabad
| |
| Coordinates: 33°43′N 73°04′ECoordinates: 33°43′N 73°04′E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Territory | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | Capital Development Authority(CDA) |
| • Chief Commissioner | Zulfiqar Haider |
| • Chairman CDA | Maroof Afzal |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Mujahid Sherdil |
| Area | |
| • Capital city | 906.00 km2 (349.81 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 906.00 km2 (349.81 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 620 m (2,000 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 490 m (1,610 ft) |
| Population (2014 estimate)[2] | |
| • Capital city | 1.9 million[1] |
| • Urban | 1,829,180 |
| • Metro | 2.2 million |
| Demonym(s) | Islamabadi,Islam-abads,Islamaabad,Islam-a'abadiya |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Postcode | 44000 |
| Area code(s) | 051 |
| HDI | 0.892  |
| HDI Category | Very High |
| Website | http://www.islamabad.gov.pk |
Etymology[edit]
The name of the city, Islamabad is derived from two words, Islam and abad, meaning "City of Islam". Islam an Arabic word which refers to the religion of Islam and -abad is a Persian place name that means inhabited placeor city.[12]
History[edit]
Main article: History of Islamabad
Early history[edit]
Islamabad Capital Territory, located on the Pothohar Plateau, is considered one of the earliest sites of human settlement in Asia.[13] Some of the earliest Stone 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 the Soan River testify to the endeavours of early man in the inter-glacial period.[14] Items of pottery and utensils dating back to prehistory have been found.[15]
Excavations have revealed evidence of a prehistoric culture. Relics and human skulls have been found dating back to 5000 BC that show this region was home to Neolithicpeople who settled on the banks of the Swaan River,[13] who developed small communities in the region at around 3000 BC.[14][16] One end of the Indus Valley Civilization flourished here between the 23rd and 18th centuries BC. Later the area was an early settlement of the Aryan community.[13] A Buddhist town once existed in the region.[17] Many great armies such as those of Zahiruddin Babur, Genghis Khan, Timur and Ahmad Shah Durrani used the corridor through Islamabad on their way to invade the rest of the Indian Subcontinent.[13] Modern Islamabad is based on the old settlement known as Saidpur. The British took control of the region from the Sikhs in 1849 and built South Asia's largest cantonment in the region.[17]
Construction and development[edit]
Main article: Developments in Islamabad
When Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the southern port city of Karachi was its first national capital. In the 1960s, Islamabad was constructed as aforward capital for several reasons.[18] Traditionally, development in Pakistan was focused on the colonial center of Karachi, and President Ayub Khan wanted it equally distributed. Moreover, Karachi having tropical weather conditions,[19]was located at one end of the country, making it vulnerable to attacks from theArabian Sea. Pakistan needed a capital that was easily accessible from all parts of the country.[20][21] Karachi, a business center, was also considered unsuitable partly because of intervention of business interests in government affairs.[22]The newly selected location of Islamabad was closer to the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the disputed territory of Kashmir in the north.[13]
In 1958, a commission was constituted to select a suitable site 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.[20][23] A Greek firm of architects, Konstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis, designed the master plan of the city based on a grid plan which was triangular in shape with its apex towards the Margalla Hills.[24] The capital was not moved directly from Karachi to Islamabad; it was first shifted temporarily toRawalpindi in the early sixties and then to Islamabad when the essential development work was completed in 1966.[25]
Recent history[edit]
Islamabad has attracted people from all over Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanised cities of Pakistan.[26] As the capital city it has hosted a number of important meetings, such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit.[27] Year 2014 has brought in major changes in Islamabad. Construction of theRawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus began on February 28, 2014 and its expected to be completed by January 2015, with 60 buses initially plying on the route. The Rawalpindi Development Authority oversees the project with a cost of approximately Rs24 billion, which will be shared by both the Federal government and the provincial government of Punjab.[28] In October 2005, the city suffered some damage due to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which had a magnitude of 7.6.[29] Islamabad has experienced a series of terrorist incidents including the July 2007 Siege of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), the June 2008 Danish embassy bombing, and the September 2008 Marriott bombing.[30] In 2011, four terrorism incidents occurred in the city, killing four people, including the murder of the then Punjab GovernorSalmaan Taseer.[31] Tragic air crashes also took place here: on 28 July 2010, Airblue Flight 202 crashed in the Margalla Hills killing all 152 flight crew and passengers on board[32] and Bhoja Air Flight 213 carrying 121 passengers crashed while making the final approach for landing, killing all on board on 20 April 2012.[33]
Geography and climate[edit]
Main article: Geography of Islamabad
Islamabad is located at 33.43°N 73.04°E at the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau and at the foot of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad Capital Territory. Its elevation is 540 metres (1,770 ft).[34][35] The modern capital and the ancientGakhar city of Rawalpindi stand side by side and are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities,[36] where no exact boundary exists between the two cities.[22] To the northeast of the city lies the hill station of Murree, and to the north lies the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Kahuta lies on the southeast,Taxila, Wah Cantt, and Attock District to the northwest, Gujar Khan, Rawat, and Mandrah on the southeast, and the metropolis of Rawalpindi to the south and southwest. Islamabad is located 120 kilometres (75 mi) SSW ofMuzaffarabad, 185 kilometres (115 mi) east of Peshawar, 295 kilometres (183 mi) NNE of Lahore, and 300 kilometres (190 mi) WSW of Srinagar, the capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The city of Islamabad expanses an area of 906 square kilometres (350 sq mi).[37] 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 the Kurang River, on which the Rawal Dam is located.[38]
Climate[edit]
Main article: Climate of Islamabad
The climate of Islamabad has a humid 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). Wettest month is July, with heavy rainfalls and evening thunderstorms with the possibility of cloudburst and flooding. Coolest Month is January. Islamabad's micro-climate is regulated by three artificial reservoirs: Rawal, Simli, and Khanpur Dam. The latter is located on the Haro River near the town of Khanpur, 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 of Margalla Hills National Park. Loi Bher Forest is situated along the Islamabad Highway, covering an area of 1,087 acres (440 ha).[39] Highest monthly rainfall of 743.3 millimetres (29.26 in) was recorded during July 1995.[40] Winters generally feature dense fog in the mornings and sunny afternoons. In the city, temperatures stay mild, with snowfall over the higher elevations points on nearby hill stations, notably Murree and Nathia 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 °C (21.2 °F) on 17 January 1967.[41][42] The city has recorded snowfall. On 23 July 2001, Islamabad received a record breaking 620 millimetres (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.[43][44]
| [hide]Climate data for Islamabad (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.0 (86) | 34.4 (93.9) | 40.6 (105.1) | 45.6 (114.1) | 46.6 (115.9) | 45.0 (113) | 42.0 (107.6) | 38.1 (100.6) | 37.8 (100) | 32.2 (90) | 28.3 (82.9) | 46.6 (115.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.1 (66.4) | 23.9 (75) | 30.1 (86.2) | 35.3 (95.5) | 38.7 (101.7) | 35.0 (95) | 33.4 (92.1) | 33.5 (92.3) | 30.9 (87.6) | 25.4 (77.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 28.6 (83.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 10.1 (50.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 16.9 (62.4) | 22.6 (72.7) | 27.5 (81.5) | 31.2 (88.2) | 29.7 (85.5) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.0 (80.6) | 22.4 (72.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 11.6 (52.9) | 21.3 (70.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.1 (41.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 15.0 (59) | 19.7 (67.5) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 20.6 (69.1) | 13.9 (57) | 7.5 (45.5) | 3.4 (38.1) | 14.1 (57.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −3.9 (25) | −2.0 (28.4) | −0.3 (31.5) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.0 (59) | 17.8 (64) | 17.0 (62.6) | 13.3 (55.9) | 5.7 (42.3) | −0.6 (30.9) | −2.8 (27) | −3.9 (25) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 56.1 (2.209) | 73.5 (2.894) | 89.8 (3.535) | 61.8 (2.433) | 39.2 (1.543) | 62.2 (2.449) | 267.0 (10.512) | 309.9 (12.201) | 98.2 (3.866) | 29.3 (1.154) | 17.8 (0.701) | 37.3 (1.469) | 1,142.1 (44.966) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 195.7 | 187.1 | 202.3 | 252.4 | 311.9 | 300.1 | 264.4 | 250.7 | 262.2 | 275.5 | 247.9 | 195.6 | 2,945.8 |
| Source #1: NOAA (normals)[45] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: PMD (extremes)[46] | |||||||||||||
Cityscape[edit]
| Zones in Islamabad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zone | Area | |
| acres | km2 | |
| I | 54,958.25 | 222.4081 |
| II | 9,804.92 | 39.6791 |
| III | 50,393.01 | 203.9333 |
| IV | 69,814.35 | 282.5287 |
| V | 39,029.45 | 157.9466 |
| Source: | Lahore Real Estate[47] | |
Civic administration[edit]
See also: Capital Development Authority
The main administrative authority of the city is Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) with some help from Capital Development Authority (CDA), which oversees the planning, development, construction, and administration of the city.[48] 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.[49] 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.[47] 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 (11⁄4 mi × 11⁄4 mi). The sectors are lettered from A to I, and each sector is divided into four numbered sub-sectors.[50]
Series A, B, and C are still underdeveloped. The D series has seven sectors (D-11 to D-17),[47] of which only sector D-12 is completely developed. This series is located at the foot of Margalla Hills.[49] The E Sectors are named from E-7 to E-17.[47]Many foreigners and diplomatic personnel are housed in these sectors.[49] In the revised Master Plan of the city, CDA has decided to develop a park on the pattern of Fatima Jinnah Park in sector E-14. Sectors E-8 and E-9 contain the campuses ofBahria University, Air University, and the National Defence University.[51][52][53] 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.[47] 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 will be one of the major landmarks of the F-8 sector.[49] G sectors are numbered G-5 through G-17.[47] Some important places include the Jinnah Convention Center and Serena Hotel in G-5, the Red Mosque in G-6, and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the largest medical complex in the capital, located in G-8.[49]
The H sectors are numbered H-8 through H-17.[47] 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.[49] 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. Currently two sub-sectors of I-9 and one sub-sector of I-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.[49] Zone III consists primarily of the Margalla Hills and Margalla Hills National Park. Rawal Lake is in this zone. Zone IV and V consist of Islamabad Park, and rural areas of the city. The Soan River flows into the city through Zone V.[47]
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