Margalla Hills

The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.

Etymology
Two different legends describe the origin of the word 'Margalla'. According to the first legend, these hills have always been known as an abode of snakes. Mar means 'snake' in Persian and galla means 'herd', therefore Margalla means a place with a lot of snakes.
According to the second legend, the word 'Margalla' was derived from Mar Galla, meaning 'to strangulate'. Mar means 'hit' and Galla means 'neck'. It is believed that there were lots of bandits and robbers who used these hills as a sanctuary and would strangle travelers in order to rob them.

Flora and Fauna
The vegetation of the southern slopes is short and stunted, comprising deciduous and evergreen trees with diverse shrub growth. In the north stand pines, Eucalyptus, Peepal trees (Ficus religiosa), Paper Mulberry and groves of oak.
The Margalla Hills are home to various species of wildlife, including monkeys, exotic birds and carnivores such as the rare and presently endangered Margalla leopard.[1]HYPERLINK "http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ProtectedAreasofPakistan/Margalla_NP.htm"[1]
Commonly found animals in the Margallas include Rhesus monkeys, jackals (often heard cackling at night near the hills), wild boars, porcupines, mongoose and the pangolin or scaly anteater. The wild boar in particular can be seen at some of the least expected places in the city. While they generally stay close to the hills, occasionally (particularly in winter when the hills are cold) they can be seen quite far from the Margallas. Often the boars will have small hideouts in the green belts in and around the city. The increasing practice of throwing litter near the hills also attracts both monkeys and wild boar to come and forage through the rubbish. The wild boars can be quite large, very solidly built and usually travel in large groups.
Less common are Margalla leopards, which usually remain high up in the hills. Even more rare are the elusive snow leopards. These beautiful animals confine themselves to the highest ridges of the range.
There is another group of animals that deserves mention: the snakes of Margalla Hills. There are a number of species of poisonous snakes in the area, including cobras, Russell's Vipers and kraits—known in local parlance as the half-minute killer. The snakes hibernate in the winter months; but tread carefully in the hotter months and particularly the monsoon months, when snakes abound. While they are to be found mainly in and around the hills, occasionally an overgrown garden can prove the ideal home.

Bird watching
The Margallas are an excellent place for bird watchers (see Birds of Islamabad).[2] The area is home to a large number of birds, including robins, sparrows, kites, crows, larks, paradise flycatchers, black partridge, shrikes, pheasants, spotted doves, Egyptian vultures, falcons, hawks and eagles. The Cheer pheasant, indigenous to the North West Frontier Province, is being reared in Margalla Hills as a part of conservation campaign

Paleontology and archeology
The rock formations are 40 million years old, and fossils of marine life abound everywhere, bearing eloquent testimony that the Margalla Hills were at one time under the sea.
According to the research carried out by scientists and archaeologists of the project "Post-Earthquake Explorations of Human Remains in Margalla Hills", the formation of the Margalla Hills goes back to the Miocene epoch. The dominant limestone of the Margalla is mixed with sandstone. The archaeologists of the project have also found two human footprints over one million years old here, preserved in sandstone

Hiking and trekking
The Margallas are excellent for hiking and cater to both the regular serious hikers and the less serious occasional enthusiasts.
For foreigners, it is advisable to go for hiking in a group, because a few incidents of mugging have been reported in the last few years. The safest and most frequented hike path is from the ZOO park to Daman-e-Koh. The best season for hiking is from February to April, when there is less rain and the weather is extremely pleasant.
Asian Study Group (a community service organization) conducts hikes from October to April. Details about hiking trails and further information can be found in the latest edition of the book called Hiking in and around Islamabad, available at select book shops in F-7 Markaz and Kohsar Market, published by Asian Study Group for the Islamabad community

Paragliding and hang gliding
Facilities for paragliding are provided by private clubs based in Islamabad

Threats to ecology and conservation campaigns
The ecology of Margallas faces threats from quarrying by 'crush plants', deforestation, illegal encroachments and buildings, and poachers. Crush plants situated around the hills near Taxila are busy eroding the hills for extracting building material. Deforestation is resulting from fires and illegal felling of trees.
The Himalayan Wildlife FoundationHYPERLINK "http://www.hwf.org.pk/"[9] is running a project on a 'sustainable management strategy for the Margalla Hills National Park'.
The Margalla Hills Society,[10] established in 1989, is a registered non-governmental organization with its head office in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is managed by an elected executive council. Its main objective is to preserve the natural environment of Margalla Hills National Park and prevent shrinkage of the green areas; to promote public interest in conservation, development and management of forests, wildlife and other natural resources of Margalla Hills National Park, and to disseminate information about the Park, including its history, geography, flora, fauna, culture, and its benefits to the citizens of Islamabad.

Pir Sohawa

Pir Sohawa

Pir Sohawa is an upland scenic rural location, popular for recreational walking and picnics, in the Margalla Hills near Islamabad, Pakistan. It presents a breathtaking view of Islamabad.
Pir Sowaha also attracts tourists in winter, as the elevation is sufficient for snowfall. Monal, a restaurant completed in 2006, offers a bird's eye view of Islamabad from its large terrace.

Daman-e-Koh

Daman-e-Koh

is a popular viewing point in Islamabad. Its name is a conjunction of two words: Daman, which means center and Koh, which means hill. Daman-e-Koh therefore meaning center of the mountain. It can also be interpreted as hem of the mountain.
The viewpoint is located north of Islamabad in the middle of the Margalla Hills. It has two picnic spots, known as the "north" and "south" viewpoints, with parking available at both spots. On the north side, there is a small cafe for tea, drinks and snacks.

On the south side, there is a restaurant located for lunch and dinner. The south side is a sightseeing spot from where panoramic views of Islamabad are available during the day and night. An informational board, providing basic information about Islamabad, is available. There is a plan to construct a chairlift from Daman-e-Koh to Pir Sohawa which is due to start in the near future.

In 2007, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) further developed the viewpoint by upgrading the restaurant and introducing electric-powered cars to transport tourists to and from the parking area.
An overview of Faisal Masjid and the seventh avenue is so clear from the Daman-e-Koh. We can also have a nice scene of Rawal Lake in the South.

A clear view of whole Islamabad city have an attraction for the tourist of the Daman-e-Koh.
A hiking path connects the zoo park located at the base of the Margalla Hills to Daman-e-Koh.

Simly Dam
The Simly Dam is the largest reservoir of drinking water to people living in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The water stored in this dam is fed by the melting snow & natural springs of Murree hills.
Contents
1 Location
2 Activities
3 Staying
4 Surroundings

Location
Simly Dam is located around 30 kilometer (19 miles) north of Islamabad. About 10 to 15 minutes drive from Convention Center Islamabad towards Murree,a road is branching off to the right which is marked Simly Dam Road. Usually, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Simly Dam from this road. The road is not very smooth and has bumps but the surroundings are beautiful
Activities
Boating and Fishing are two main activities here. For fishing, you need to have license (permission)from CDA (Capital Development Authority), Islamabad.

Staying
There is only one guest house in Simly Dam operated by CDA (Capital Development Authority), Islamabad. Before you plan to stay here, you need to have permission to stay & visit this beautiful guest house from CDA Head Office located in Islamabad.

Surroundings
About 100 meters before the Simly Dam, a road goes directly to Gulahrra Gali, Patriata. Besie this road, there are small cities like Crore and Bun operated by MKDA (Murre Kahuta Development Authority). After you cross Crore and Bun, you directly reach to Gulharra Gali, Patriata.

Swaan River

The Swaan River (Urdu: دریائے سوان) is the most important stream of the Pothohar region of Pakistan. It drains much of the water of Pothohar. It starts near a small village Bun in the foothills of Patriata and Murree. It provides water to Simblee Dam, which is the water reservoir for Islamabad. Near Pharwala Fort it cuts through a high mountain range, a wonderful natural phenomenon called Swan Cut. No stream can cut such a high mountain, which proves that the Swaan was there before the formation of this range. And as the mountain rose through millions of years, the stream continued its path by cutting the rising mountain. Ling stream, following a relatively long course through Lehtrar and Kahuta falls in the Swaan near Sihala.

Islamabad Highway crosses this stream near Sihala where the famous Cock Pull bridge is constructed over it. Another famous stream, the Lai stream, joins this stream near Swaan Camp. After following a tortuous path along a big curve, the stream reaches Kalabagh where it falls into the Indus river. This relatively small stream is more than 250 kilometers long. Due to its mountainous course and shallow bed, it is hardly used for irrigation purposes. For grinding wheat, you can find ancient types of flour mills near Chakian. Fishing is not possible in this stream as a profession. Rohu is the main species of fish in this stream, and Kingfisher birds hunt here too.

Rawal Lake

Rawal Lake in Pakistan is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This artificial lake covers an area of 8.8 km². Rawal Lake is located within an isolated section of the Margalla Hills National Park.
Recreation
The area around the lake has been planted with flowering trees and laid out with gardens, picnic spots, and secluded paths. The terraced garden and the lake are used for picnics, fishing and boating. The highest point in the garden offers a panoramic view of the lake, Margalla and Murree hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Boating, sailing, water skating and diving facilities are organized by private clubs.
To the west of the lake is the Islamabad Club, which offers different sporting facilities
Wildlife
The reservoir is of considerable importance for wintering waterfowl, especially Anas platyrhynchos.
Resident mammals include the common fox, Pangolin, Porcupine, Jungle cat, Jackal, Wild boar and yellow-throated marten.
Reptiles include indian cobra and Russell's viper.
It is a good place for birds watching, as the majority of Birds of Islamabad are found here.
Features of Rawal Lake
Location: Islamabad Park Area
Longitude: 73° 7' E
Latitude: 33° 41' N
Catchments Area: 106.25 square miles (275 km²)
Features of Rawal Lake dam
Type of Dam: Partly Arched Gravity Dam (Stone Masonry
Crest Level: 1,742 ft (531 m)
Crest Length: 700 ft (210 m)
Max. Height: 133.5 ft (40.7 m)
Saddle
Length 6991 ft
Height 24 ft
Spillway
Type Ogee Gated structure
Discharge Capacity 82000 ft³/s (2,300 m³/s)
Reservoir
Length 3 square miles
Max. Depth 102 feet
Live Storage 43000 acre-feet (53,000,000 m³)
Dead storage 4500 acre-feet (5,600,000 m³)
Gross Capacity 47500 acre-feet (59,000,000 m³)
Canals
Left Bank Canal Length 5 Miles
Capacity 40 ft³/s (1.1 m³/s)
Right Bank Canal Length 1.5 Miles
Capacity 70 ft³/s (2.0 m³/s)

Drinking water supply
Rawalpindi 19.5 million gallons/day
Islamabad 2.5 million gallons/day

Command area
Agriculture 500 acres

Universities of Islamabad

International Islamic University, Islamabad
The International Islamic University, Islamabad (Arabic: الجامعة الإسلامية العالمية إسلام آباد), an international seat of Islamic learning in Pakistan to provide every opportunity for an all round and harmonious development of individuals and society and reconstruction of human thought in all its forms on the foundation of Islam.
The foundation of the International Islamic University, Islamabad was laid on November 11, 1980. The desire to produce scholar and practitioners, imbued with Islamic Learning, character and personality, and capable to meet the economic, social, political, technological and intellectual needs of the Muslim Ummah was the raison d'être of this university. The University was reconstituted as International Islamic University, Islamabad with the promulgation of ordinance No.xxx of 1985.
It is completely distinct from the International Islamic University in Malaysia.
Aims & Objectives of the University
The stated aims and objectives of the International Islamic University are:
To provide for all- around and harmonious development of individuals and society
To re-construct human thought in all its forms on the foundations of Islam
To develop Islamic character and personality among the students, teachers and the supporting staff in the University
To encourage and promote education, training and research in Islamic Learning, social, natural, applied and communication sciences, and other branches of knowledge
To take practical steps for ideological , moral, intellectual, economic and technological developments ideas, principles in accordance with the norms of Islam and to take necessary steps for developing practical solutions of contemporary problems.
Location
There are two campuses of University,
Old Campus
The university's Old Campus is located around the popular Faisal Mosque, a symbol of international Islamic brotherhood and unity. It was designed by a famous Turkish architect and was donated to the university by late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The mosque is spread over an area of 189,705 sq.meters and can accommodate about 80 thousand people.
New Campus
The New Campus is located in Sector H-10 of Islamabad. That whole sector is given solely to this university. Construction of the first phase was completed in February 2003 and this has enabled the university to expand its academic programs. A separate Women's Campus has also been established. Central Library construction was completed in 2006, along with the Lincoln corner.
The Government of Pakistan very generously allotted Islamabad, Sector H-10, comprising 704 acres (2.85 km2) of land, to enable the University to construct and shift to its own new premises and meet its ever increasing needs.
At present three academic blocks while two under construction and Eleven hostel blocks (Seven for male and Four for female) have been completed 'and all University faculties are now functioning in new buildings with effect from January, 2002. In addition one academic block and two hostel blocks have also been completed and became functional for the Women Campus of the University.
As envisaged in the Master Plan of the new campus, the University will be completed in phases of which Stage-I of Phase-I has reached culmination while stage-II is nearing completion. When constructed in its entirety, the University will accommodate 30,000 students (20,000 male and 10,000 female) in 22-25 faculties. In addition, there will be 57 hostel blocks for male students and 28 for female and partial accommodation for teaching/research and administrative staff.
The layout of the campus and all the buildings to be constructed there have been designed by renowned architects. Due regard has been paid to landscaping and providing a suitable background to all the structures. The architectural is a judicious blend of the modern and traditional Islamic styles, in keeping with the spirit of the International University.

Apart from the administrative blocks and teaching departments, the buildings of the various institutes and academies and the hostels, there is to be a beautiful central mosque and a unique central library. Provision has been made for a commercial center and shops for the resident staff and the students. Altogether the total campus when complete will be an attractive addition to the existing architectural charms of Islamabad
Organization
Faculties
The university consists of the following faculties:
Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences
Department of Computer Science
Department of Mathematics
Department of Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Engineering and Technology(PEC recognized)
Department of Electronic Engineering
Faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Civilization
Faculty of Languages, Literature and Humanities
Faculty of Management Sciences
Department of Business Administration
Department of Technology Management
Faculty of Shariah and Law
Faculty of Social Science
Department of Education
Politics and International Relations
Faculty of Islmaic Studies (Usuluddin)
Social Sciences
CMC (Center of Media and Communication
Institutes
Islamic language centre
Islamic Research Institute
International Institute of Islamic Economics
School of Economics
Islamic Banking and Finance
Economics and Finance
Academies
Dawah Academy
Shari'ah Academy IQRA CENTER FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Libraries
Central Library
The major source of knowledge of the university is the central library serving as the knowledge backbone for research and development regarding all the streams that are being offered by the university. It is one of the biggest libraries of Asia regarding Islamic learning and rare research materials. The library contains huge collection of books, journals, research projects and international magazines. The number of estimated books in the library is 1.5 million.
Lincoln Corner
Lincoln corner is situated in Central Library. It contains all the material on American History. Lincoln corner is equipped with multimedia projectors, DVD players, broadband Internet, etc.
IIIE Library
International institute of Islamic economics provides all facilities regarding research on Islamic economics. It is a heavily funded library and contains very rare books on Islamic law and Islamic way of running the govt. system. The books and research materials are exceeding the limits of 100,000.
IRI Library
Islamic Research Institute library is the source of knowledge regarding different levels of the Islamic research. This library contains a large amount of books that are exceeding the limits of 100,000.
FMS/FET Library
In terms of science & technology the library contains 25,000 books and 15 periodicals are also subscribed. Ten newspapers are purchased for the benefit of the users. The Library has seating arrangement for 50 users at a time. The library also has 550 research reports/theses. The library provides 12 hour service daily to the students. With the introduction of new programs, the collection will grow very rapidly in the near future.
Dawah Academy Library
Dawah Library has been developed in period of more than two decades from zero level to a level where it is now capable of adequately supporting the research, training and publication programmes of Dawah Academy. More than 22,000 books on different subjects are available here.

Departmental libraries
Each department of the university has its own small libray as well. open the page of islamic text
Foreign Collaboration
The Islamic University has very close academic collaboration with the following universities:
Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Ummul Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Islamic University of Medina, Medina, Saudi Arabia
Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Ningxia University, Read more China
A number of competent and qualified teachers who specialize in Shariah, Usul al Din wa Da’wah, Arabic Language and other subjects are provided on deputation by these universities.
Awards
International Islamic University holds an honor of being one of the biggest university of Pakistan offering 72 different Bachelors and Masters programs. The Electronics department of the university was recently accredited by Pakistan Engineering Council. The University lists of more than 130 Ph. D Professors.
Facilities
The University has started numerous activities to favour students and staff. The Project of Wireless Internet access to old and new campus has been initiated. The University is also providing laptops to students and staff at economical monthly installments.
Hostel Facilities near IIUI Campus Islamabad are actively engaged by national as well as international students, one of the closest and popular hostel is Alfalah Hostel I-10/2
Associations
Academic Staff Welfare Association ( ASA ) Officer Welfare Association ( OWA ) University Staff Welfare Association ( USWA )
Events
A massive three-day book fair was arranged in the university with the collaboration of different companies. Media teams of AAJ TV, Dawn News, Geo TV, ATV (Pakistan) were there to cover the event. It continued from 22 October to 25 October. More than 85 national and international publishers participated in the exhibition. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem was the chief guest on the occasion.¹

National University of Moderan languges
The University began as an institute in 1970 to help people communicate and understand each other in different languages, to assimilate different cultures and to act as a springboard for emerging disciplines. At present it is a fully autonomous, degree awarding University. It has crossed several barriers and now teaches 23 languages in addition to many emerging arts and sciences. It is open to all persons, regardless of class, creed, gender, race or color.
Located in the south west of the federal capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, the main campus is spread over an area of 25 acres. It can accommodate over ten thousand students for on-campus education. The campus consists of five double storied academic blocks and one IT Block.


It also has three hostels for students on its premises, and many more construction plans are in the offing to enlarge its area of operation.
The main library has over 90,000 books with language laboratories and informatics, while each department has its own specialized library for quick reference. With a large fleet of vehicles, it comfortably meets the commuting requirements of both students and faculty.

Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan.
One of the best public sector universities in Pakistan, it was founded as the University of Islamabad in 1965. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto(Foreign Minister,Prime Minister later on) got funding from US government for establishment of this University during Ayub Khan era.The university is highly regarded among the academic and research circles of Pakistan.
Quaid-i Azam University has established research collaboration with a number of foreign universities in the United States, Europe and South Asia, and is rated as one of the top public institutions of higher education in Pakistan. According to the 2006 ranking of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University is ranked first in the general category.[1] As per rankings of OIC universities, QAU stood second in ranking among Muslim countries universities. More than 80% of the teachers hold doctoral degrees and have overseas experience[citation needed].
Quaid-i-Azam University consists of four faculties, namely Faculty of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Bahria Uninersity
Pakistan Navy established Bahria Institute at Islamabad and Karachi in the late eighties. These Institutes were aimed at providing quality and uninterrupted education up to Intermediate level, to the children of naval personnel on their transfer from one station to another and in turn to contribute to the cause of promotion of education at the national level. Over the years these Institutes grew in size and facilities, leading to the starting of BBA and B.Sc(CS) classes in 1995.
These programs have since been upgraded to BBA (Hons), BCS (Hons) and MBA, MCS Programs which were introduced in Fall 1997 as 'evening programs' run under the management of two independent 'Institutes' one each at Karachi and Islamabad respectively. The institutes are known as "Bahria Institute of Management and Computer Science" short title "BIM&CS" suffixed with the location i.e. Karachi or Islamabad.
ObjectivesBahria University, though very young, has the will and determination to develop and attain the objectives set forth below:
Establish Campuses, Research Institutes, Schools and Colleges across the length and breadth of Pakistan to turn population explosion into knowledge based force.
Prepare the younger generation to become future leaders and managers for a prosperous and educated Pakistan, through development of their mental, moral and professional strengths.
Ensure academic excellence through quality education in disciplined and peaceful learning environments.
Constantly monitor and upgrade facilities and update the curricula to keep pace with the emerging trends and technologies.
Coordinate and provide facilities for exchange of knowledge and applied research in the newly emerging fields in collaboration with national and international Universities and research institutes.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah University
Mohammad Ali Jinnah University is chartered by the Government of Sindh as a comprehensive institution, authorized to award earned or honorary degrees at all levels, from Associate to Doctorate, in all disciplines, ranging from Accounting to Zoology. The University follows the American system of education. It fulfils all the pre-requisites and degree requirements comparable to any good accredited international university . A number of international academic evaluation agencies have evaluated our degrees as being equal to a degree awarded by any accredited international university. The dream to provide quality education to the youth of Pakistan is gradually being realized with the establishment of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, which has two campuses, one at Karachi and the other at Islamabad.Mohammad Ali Jinnah University has three focal points in its planning. The first of course is the range of programs. It has Departments of Computer Science, Electronics Engineering and Biosciences in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences; while in the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, there are Departments of Management Sciences, Economics and Social Sciences.
The programs are tailored not for the popular market but for the real need of our country’s economy and manpower development. The second focal point is training. In addition to pure academic programs, the University runs training programs, seminars and workshops for the benefit of industry, public sector and community at large. The university believes that this is its contribution to development of professional manpower, which is enriching society as a whole. Finally, the third focal point is the university's endeavors in Research. The University is deeply conscious of the fact that research and development are the main tools countries use to transform their developing economies into developed nations.
The University is investing heavily in facilities, technology and faculty development to promote Research in meaningful and purposeful areas. The University has started Doctoral level programs in Computer Sciences, Electrical Engineering, and Management Sciences.

History
The Punjab Group of Colleges has been serving the community with quality education since 1985. Punjab College of Commerce was the first institution to be established by the Group at Lahore. The Group is continuing to expand its horizons by extending its network to several cities in the country. Under the umbrella of the Punjab Group of Colleges, Punjab College of Business Administration (PCBA) and Punjab Institution of Computer Science (PICS) have emerged as highly specialized business and computer science institutions. Punjab Law College and Punjab College of Information Technology are also links in this rapidly expanding chain of colleges.As a tribute to the Father of the Nation, the Group named its next ambitious project as Mohammad Ali Jinnah University. The University was granted its charter by the Government of Sindh in 1998 (Reference S.LEGIS:1(7)/98 dated July 01, 1998, which was finally promulgated in the year 2000 (Reference S.LEGIS:1(4)/2000 dated May 18, 2000. The Islamabad Campus was established after obtaining an NOC from UGC ref. 16-21/UGC-sec/98/1348 dated 17th August, 1998 and 16-21 UGC/AA & C/98/553 dated 29th November 2001 and NOC from HEC ref. 16-21/HEC/A&A/2003/649 dated 27th September 2003.In recognition of its sterling services to the cause of excellence in education, the Group has been awarded yet another charter by the Government of Punjab to establish the University of Central Punjab.Resource Academia was established in Islamabad after major success of the School in Lahore in 2003. This institution will provide quality education from preschool to grade VIII at the junior level, and from O level to A level at the senior level. The aim of the Group is to establish a nation-wide network of outstanding schools providing up-to-date knowledge to the coming generations.The Group has established institutions providing an outstanding level of education from the pre-school level to the Ph. D level. The campuses are located at strategic locations in the major cities of Pakistan and provide education in a wide variety of disciplines at various levels.

History & some info about Islamabad

Islamabad
Islamabad (help·info) (Urdu: اسلام آباد) Islāmabād (Meaning "Abode of Islam") is the capital of Pakistan, and is the tenth largest city in Pakistan. [1] The Rawalpindi/Islamabad metropolitan area is the third largest in Pakistan with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants, 1.5 million in Islamabad and three million in Rawalpindi. [2]
Islamabad is located in the Potohar Plateau in the north of the country, within the Islamabad Capital Territory. The region has historically been a part of the crossroads of Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province, Margalla pass being a gateway to the North-West Frontier Province.[3]
The city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital. However the capital was not moved directly from Karachi to Islamabad but first moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi then to Islamabad. The development of the country was focused on Karachi and President Ayub Khan wanted it to be equally distributed.
Islamabad is one of the most well-planned and green cities in South Asia.[peacock term][4] The city is well-organized and divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad is also home to the Faisal Masjid which is well known for its architecture and immense size.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Early History
1.2 Construction and Development
1.3 As Capital of Pakistan
2 Geography and Climate
3 Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area
4 Tourism and Sightseeing
5 Culture
5.1 Demographics
5.2 Architecture
6 Economy
7 Transport
8 Civic Administration
8.1 Sectors
8.2 Union Councils
9 Education
10 See also
11 Sister Cities
12 References
13 Notes

History
Early History
The relatively young city of Islamabad has over thousands of years of history in its record books. Islamabad Capital Territory, located in the Pothohar Plateau, is regarded to be one of the earliest sites of human settlement in Asia. Situated at one end of the Indus Valley Civilization, this area was the first habitation of the Aryan community from Central Asia. Islamabad was one of the routes though which the armies from North and North West passed to invade Indian Subcontinent. Many great armies such as those of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Timur and Nader Shah have used this route on their way to Indian Subcontinent. Relics and human skulls have been found dating back to 5000 B.C. that show this region was home to Stone Age man who used the banks of Swaan River as their settlement.
Construction and Development
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 thorough review of various sites, the commission recommended the area Northeast of Rawalpindi. A Greek firm of architects Konstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis designed the master plan of the city which was triangular in shape, based on a Grid plan, with its apex towards the Margalla Hills.
17 major changes have been made in the Master Plan of Islamabad since the Greek architects Doxiadis Associates prepared it in 1960.[5]
As Capital of Pakistan
When Pakistan was created in 1947, Karachi was the first capital. However, in 1960 Islamabad was constructed as a forward capital due to the following reasons:
Traditionally, the development was focused on the colonial centre of Karachi and President Ayub Khan wanted it to be equally distributed.
Karachi was located at one end of the country and a capital which was easily accessible from all parts of the country was needed.
Karachi was vulnerable to attacks from the sea while Islamabad, by contrast, is 750 miles inland and surrounded by mountains.
A statement was needed to be made regarding Kashmir territories in the North, which were disputed with India.
It was also closer to the GHQ which was, and still is, in Rawalpindi.
The climate in Islamabad is favourable compared to Lahore.
Geography and Climate
The city is situated at the haseeb ibrahim faisal edge of the Pothohar plateau, south of the Margalla Hills. The modern capital Islamabad and the ancient Gakhar city of Rawalpindi stand side by side, displaying the country’s past and present. The area's micro-climate is regulated by three man-made lakes (Rawal, Simli and Khanpur Dam). The city overall has an extreme climate with hot summers with monsoon rains occurring during July and August, and fairly cold winters with sparse snowfall over the hills and sleet in the city. The weather ranges from a minimum of −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) in January to a maximum of 46.1 °C (115.0 °F) in June.[6]
The modern city of Islamabad was envisaged as the new capital of Pakistan in the 1960s. In the mid 1960's the capital was shifted from Karachi to Islamabad, with most of the Government machinery shifting to Islamabad, along with the foreign embassies, though off-shoots of some of these remain even today in Karachi. The city was built as a planned city and has been divided into various sectors on a "grid". One axis is indexed numerically, the other alphabetically.
The surrounding areas of Islamabad include:
East: Kotli Sattian/Murree
North East: Murree / Kahuta
North West: Taxila / Wah Cantt / Attock District
South East: Gujar Khan / Kallar Syedian / Rawat / Mandrah
South West: Rawalpindi
West: North-West Frontier Province
The Islamabad area has surprising religious diversity of considerable antiquity. A shrine of Sufi Pir Mehar Ali Shah is at Golra while the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi is in Nurpur Shahan. Saidpur Village hosts Hindu temples that have striking architecture and "Bethak of Zinda Pir" which is famous for the traditional lamps (diyas).
Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area
Islamabad and Rawalpindi are twin cities with just a highway separating them. Both cities, combined with Taxila and other adjoining areas, form the Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area with total population exceeding 5 million.
Tourism and Sightseeing
Lake View Park with Rawal Lake in the background.
Islamabad is one of the few cities in Pakistan that is a planned city with a well-developed infrastructure due to which it made its entry into the list of the most well-planned cities in South Asia.[7] This along with its picturesque location at the base of Margalla Hills make it a favourite destination with tourists. The sculpted gardens of Islamabad's Shakar Parian Hills, newly constructed National Monument, the fascinating Heritage Museum, and the huge marble Shah Faisal Mosque are the major highlights of the city.
Faisal Mosque was constructed on the suggestion of King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz.[8] With the area of over 5000 square meters and a capacity of over 300,000 worshippers, it is the biggest mosque in Pakistan and one of the biggest in the world. The newly constructed Lake View Park alongside Rawal Lake has become a favourite picnic spot in the city.[9]
The city's pleasant climate has enabled the introduction of many exotic plants to the area. There is also much wildlife in the north in the Margalla hills, which have been turned into a national park. The Margalla hills are home to various species of wild life including a variety of exotic birds and carnivores such as the rare and presently endangered Margalla leopards.
Culture
Demographics
According to the 1998 census, Punjabis account for 71% of the population followed by the Muhajirs at around 10%, Pashtun at 10% and others (Sindhis, Balochis, Kashmiris etc) at 9%. [10] The city is also host to many foreigners from around the globe and families of dignitaries.
The main language spoken in Islamabad is Urdu which is predominantly used within the city due to an ethnic mix of populations. English, being the official language of Pakistan is also commonly understood. Other languages include Punjabi, Pashto and Pothohari.
Islamabad's architecture walks a tight-rope between modernity and tradition. The Saudi-Pak Tower is a good example of the combination of modern and traditional styles into one building. The beige-coloured edifice is trimmed with blue tilework in Islamic tradition, and is one of Islamabad's tallest buildings. Islamabad is a great place for hiking there are 5 hiking tracks in Islamabad.
Other examples of intertwined Islamic and modern architecture include Pakistan Monument and Faisal Mosque. The murals on the inside of large petals of Pakistan Monument are based on Islamic architecture, and were decorated by a team of artists led by Kausar Jahan and Zarar Haider Babri, who spent a total of 119,000 hours on the artwork.[11] The relatively is great great great unusual design of Shah Faisal Mosque fuses contemporary lines with the more traditional look of an Arab Bedouin's tent with large triangular prayer hall and four minarets. The mosque's architecture is a departure from the long history of South Asian Muslim architecture. However, in some ways it makes a bridge between Arabic, Turkish and Mughal architectural traditions.[12]
The Centaurus is one of the examples of modern architecture under construction in Islamabad. The complex is designed by WS Atkins PLC, whose portfolio includes the Burj al-Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, and the Bahrain World Trade Centre in Bahrain.
Economy
Most of Pakistan's state-owned companies like PIA, PTV, PTCL, OGDCL etc. are based in Islamabad's Blue Area. The City is also home to many branches of Karachi-based companies, banks, TV channels etc. Headquarters of all major telecommunication operators; PTCL, Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, China Mobile & others are located in Islamabad.
Islamabad Stock Exchange is Pakistan's third largest stock exchange after Karachi and Lahore.
Recently, Islamabad has seen an expansion of information and communications technology with the addition two Software Technology Parks which house numerous national and foreign technological and IT companies. Call centres for foreign companies have been targeted as another significant area of growth, with the government making efforts to reduce taxes by as much as 10% in order to encourage foreign investments in the IT sector.
Islamabad is connected to the major destinations around the world through an international airport called "Benazir Bhutto International Airport". All major cities and towns are accessible through regular trains and bus services running mostly from the neighboring city of Rawalpindi which is considered a gateway town between north and south. Lahore and Peshawar are linked to Islamabad through a network of modern and rapid motorways which has resulted in a significant reduction in traveling times between these cities. Rawalpindi and Islamabad are also connected through a network of local buses and mini vans. For more convenient traveling, a $2 taxi ride covers most urban areas within the twin cities metropolitan.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has intended to carry out a feasibility and reference design for a rapid mass transit system for the twin-cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. On April 5, 2007, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that a railway station would be built near the planned Islamabad Airport at Fateh Jang to facilitate passengers called "New Islamabad International Airport". The New Islamabad International Airport is a 3,600-acre (15 km2) international airport that is being built to serve the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. The airport is located in Fateh Jang, which is 30 km south-west of the city. Construction of the airport began in April 2007, after a decade long postponement. It is expected to be completed and operational in approximately three years. It will then take all the commercial flights that are currently operating out of the Islamabad International Airport. The Airport will be named as "Gandhara International Airport" after the ancient Buddhist kingdom.Estimated to cost about $400 million, the new Airport facility, which is the first green-field airport in Pakistan, shall comprise a contemporary state-of-the-art passenger terminal building, control tower, runway with a provision of a secondary runway, taxiways, apron, cargo complex, and hangar together with all the necessary infrastructure and ancillary facilities. It would cater to the requirements of latest generation of modern passenger aircraft.
Civic Administration
In 1959, a site on the northwest of the newly independent Pakistan was chosen and named Islamabad. Doxiadis Associates of Athens were commissioned to design the master plan in 1960. Islamabad is located on an area of 909 sq.m at the foot of the Himalaya mountain range. An autonomous governmental body was established for the implementation of the master plan under the name The Capital Development Authority (CDA). The landscaping of Islamabad was carried out by Derek Lovejoy and Partners in collaboration with many other designers.[13]
Sectors
Daman-e-Koh
Islamabad is 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. Each sector is identified by a letter of the Roman alphabet and a number, and covers an area of approximately 2 km x 2 km (11⁄4 x 11⁄4 mi). Each sector is further divided into 4 sub-sectors. The sectors currently in use are lettered from D to I.
Currently, there is only one D sector, D-12. Although this sector is underdeveloped with its development to be completed in 2008, it will be considered as one of the most beautiful sectors of Islamabad because of its location near the Margalla Hills. However, in the revised Master Plan, CDA has decided to develop new sectors including D-13 and D-14.
The E sectors are numbered from E-6 to E-18. Many foreigners and diplomatic personnel are housed in this sector. But with new revised Master Plan, CDA has decided to develop a park on the patterns of F-9 park in sector E-14. Sector E-8 and E-9 contain the campuses of three Defense universities Bahria University (Sector E-8), Air University (Sector E-9) and National Defence College (now National Defence University).
The F sectors are numbered F-5 through F-12. F-5 is an important sector for the software industry in Islamabad, as both of the two software technology parks are located here. The entire sector of F-9 is dedicated for the Fatima Jinnah Park. The Centaurus complex (including a 7 star plaza, 5 star hotel and apartments) will be one of the major landmarks of F-8.
The G sectors are numbered G-5 through G-16. Some important landmarks include the Convention Center, Serena Hotel and Center for Advance Studies in Engineering (CASE) in G-5, the Lal Mosque and Melody Market in G-6, the Karachi Company shopping center in G-9 (named after a construction company from Karachi who made one of the first flats in this area in and around 1978) and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in G-8 which is the largest medical complex in the capital and is hence also known by the locals as simply the 'Complex Hospital.' The Institute is a national centre of excellence and tertiary referral centre. With its own helipad it was the focal point of rescue missions and the point of referral for the most seriously wounded in the Northern Areas earthquake of 2005.
The H sectors are numbered H-7 through H-12. The H sectors are mostly dedicated to educational and health institutions. Sector H-12 is allocated to National University of Science and Technology (NUST) for construction of its new campus.
The I sectors are numbered I-8 through I-18. Except for I-8, these sectors are primarily set aside as part of the industrial zone. Only Two sub-sectors of Sector I-9 and one sub-sector of sector I-10 is used as Industrial Area. Sector I-11 is proposed site of a state-of-art Vegetable and Fruit Market. CDA has planned to relocate the operating Veg. and Fruit market from I-11 to Sangjani. Sector I-15 is a new sector for Low-income group. CDA is planning to set up Islamabad Railway Station in Sector I-18 and Industrial City in proposed sector I-17.
The road separating I sector from Rawalpindi is called I J Principal road.
Union Councils
There is no proper District Government setup in ICT but efforts are being made towards the establishment of a local Government system in the ICT, which is still not in place in ICT as local government systems exist in other parts of the country. In 2005, the Ministry of Interior divided the ICT into 40 union councils — 20 union councils in rural/urban areas of the ICT. However, the Union Council system is yet to be implemented. The 20 union councils each cover the following regions of the ICT (the name in brackets refers to each council's jurisdiction, named after a main town in the area covered by each council, e.g. Rewat or Tarnol):
Union Council No. 1 (Rewat): Rewat, Bhangreel Kalan, Bhangreel Khurd, Kortara, Takht Pari, Shadi Dhamial, Mohra Amir, Sood Gangal, Mohri Khumbal, Sheikhpur, Hoon Dhamial, Chuchkal and Bhima Kanait.
Union Council No. 2 (Humak): Humak, Kotha Kalan and Naizian
Union Council No. 3 (Sihala): Sihala, Gagri, Mughal, Chak Kamidar, Nara Sayedan, Sandu, Chitroh, Herdogher, Jabi Gakhran, Ladhiot, Kangota, Sayedan, Jandala and Kangota Gujran.
Union Council No. 4 (Koral): Koral, Lohi Bher, Choocha, Rakh Lohi Bher, Pagh, Panwal, Bora Bangial, Bukher, Khathreel, Dhaliala, Pind Dia, Paija, Darwala, Sher Dhamial, Pindi Malkan, Pindori Hathial, Pindori Sayedan, Bhimber Trar, Gohra Mast, Sigga, Channi Mahsu and Khan.
Union Council No. 5 (Khana): Khana Dak, Gangal, Gandhian, Tarlai Khurd and Sodhar.
Union Council No. 6 (Tarlai Kalan): Tarlai Kalan, Chaper Mir-Khanal, Tramri, Tamma, Gohra Sardar, Chatha Bakhtawar and Khardapur.
Union Council No. 7 (Kirpa): Kirpa, Jhang Sayedan, Partal, Saknal, Panjgran, Frash and Ali Pur.
Union Council No. 8 (Cherah): Cherah, Herno Thanda Pani and Ara.
Union Council No. 9 (Tumair): Tumair, Kijnah, Sihali, New Simbli, Jandala, Jandgran, Garathian, Darkalai, Rakh Tumair A, Rakh Tumair B, Dakhian and Pind Begwal.
Union Council No. 10 (Phulgran): Phulgran, Shahpur, Sakrila, Dohala, Bbbri Betha, Athal, Maira Begwal, Chattar, Karlot, Hotran, Kathar, Mangal, Chaniari, Rakh Maira A & B and Malot.
Union Council No. 11 (Bhara Kau): Kot Hathial.
Union Council No.12 (Malpur); Malpur, Shahdara (Malpur Rural), Jhang Bangial, Mandla, Subban, Mangial, Quaid-e-Azam University and Muslim Colony.
Union Council No. 13 (Noorpur Shahan): Noor Pur Shahan, Ratta Hoter, Talhar, Gokina and Saidpur.
Union Council No. 14 (Kuri at Chak Shehzad): Kuri, Rehara, Chak Shahzad, Majuhan, Mohrian, Gohra Baz, Mohra Jijan, Jagiot and Nogazi.
Union Council No. 15 (Rawal Town): Mohra Noor, Rawal Tonw, Rawal Colony, Mochi Mohra, Sumbal Korak (Katchi Abadi) and Sumbal Korak.
Union Council No. 16 (Sohan): Sohan, Kana Kak, Jaba Taili, Shakrial, Pindori, Sihana, Lakhwal, Chak Bera Sing, Kartal, Bohan, Dhoke Sharaf, Ojri Kalan & Khurd and Poona Faqiran.
Union Council No. 17 (Golra): Golra, Maira Bairi, Baker Akku, Dharek Mori, Maira Sumbal Aku, Maira Sumbal Jafer, Dharmian (F-11), E-10 (Sihala), Badia Rustam and Khan.
Union Council No. 18 (Shah Allah Ditta): Shah Allah Ditta, Seri Seral, Pind Sangral, Sara-e-Kharbooza, Johd, Siray Madhu, Bara Dari, Bakhar Fateh and Bakhsh.
Union Council No. 19 (Jhangi Sayeda): Jhangi Sayedan, Nothia, Thala Sayedan and Chailo, Sheikhpur, Kak, Noon, Narala and Bokra.
Union Council No. 20 (Tarnol): Bhadana Kalan, Tarnol, Pindi Parian, Naugazi, Dorey, Ahi Paswal, Sangjani and Bhadana Khurd.

International Islamic University
Main article: List of educational institutes in Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Islamabad boasts the Highest Literacy Rate in Pakistan at 72.38%.[14] A large number of public and private sector educational institutes are present in Islamabad. The higher education institutes in the capital are either federally chartered or administered by private organizations and almost all of them are recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. High schools and colleges are either affiliated with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education or with the UK universities education boards (A/O Levels, IGCSE etc.). According to AEPM's (Academy of Educational Planning And Management, Ministry of Education) Pakistan Education Statistics 2006-07 report, there are total 904 recognized institutions in Islamabad, out of which 30 are pre-primary, 2 are religious schools (Deeni Madaris/Mosques), 384 are primary, 157 are middle, 232 are high (10 years of education), 59 are higher secondary (12 years of education), 15 are inter and 25 are degree colleges[15]. 7 teacher training institutes are also running in Islamabad with a total enrollment of 581,068 students and 491 teaching faculty [16].
The Gender Parity Index in Islamabad is 0.93 compared to 0.95 for Pakistan as a whole[17]. There are 178 boys only institutes, 175 girls and 551 mixed institutes in the capital territory [15]. Total enrollment of students in all categories is 273583, 139961 for boys and 133,622 for girls [18].
There are 17 recognized universities in Islamabad with a total enrollment of 279,820 students and 25,653 teachers [19]. The world's largest university Allama Iqbal Open University is located in Islamabad.[20] The two top engineering universities in Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences(PIEAS) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) also have their headquarters in the capital.[21] Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad is ranked the best university in Pakistan in general category[21]. Other notable universities include Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technologhy , Fatima Jinnah Women University, a female only university, Hamdard University, the largest and the most popular private university of the country, National Defence University, Shifa College of Medicine, National University of Modern Languages, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah University.
In 2006-2007, the Federal Government spend a total of 54,523.637 million Rs. on the education sector out of which 25,830.670 million was developmental fund [22]. This amount is 25.18% of the total educational budget spend in that year, which was 216,518.059 million Rs. The public expenditure on education as percentage of total government expenditure that year was 14.09% [22].
See also
Margalla Hills
Daman-e-Koh - a view point above Islamabad
Pir Sohawa - a small hamlet with a resteraunt high above the city with great view
Behlol Pur, Gujrat
Margalla Hills National Park
Birds of Islamabad

Institute of Space Technology
Federal Urdu University
Islamabad at the Open Directory Project
Citi Marble Industries