About
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, located in the Islamabad Capital Territory in Asia. It is a city with a deliberate design: purpose-built in the 1960s as a planned modern administrative centre, it was laid out to house the national government rather than growing up around an older settlement.
What the city is like
The most noticeable feature of Islamabad is its organised layout. Its streets and districts follow a planned structure, which sets it apart from many older cities in the region. Visitors who enjoy seeing how a capital was conceived and built will find the city's orderly character an interesting contrast to the busier, more densely developed urban centres elsewhere in the country.
Why visit
- Government institutions: As the seat of national government, Islamabad is home to the country's principal administrative bodies, which gives the city its particular function and atmosphere.
- Planned urban design: The city suits visitors interested in town planning and modern architecture, and in how a capital can be built to a single vision.
- A base for the wider region: Islamabad sits within the Islamabad Capital Territory, so it can serve as a starting point for exploring the surrounding area.
Islamabad is best approached as a city to understand rather than one to rush through. Its clear layout makes it easy to get a sense of the place in a visit, and those interested in the story of a planned capital will likely find it rewarding.