History Of Islamabad

The idea for Islamabad emerged after a few years after Pakistan's independance in 1947. Even though Karachi was by all means Pakistan's commercial capital it had a few shortcomings as an administrative centre. Hence master plans for this city were laid out and a new city was created against the back drops of the breath-taking Margalla Hills. Islamabad took over as the capital city of Pakistan in 1959.

Travellers entering Islamabad for the first time are struck by its greenness. More than six million trees have been planted here since the foundations were laid. The result is that, from the air, the capital seems to have been thrown down in the midst of virgin forest. The best viewpoint is from Daman-e-Koh, a terraced garden on the Margalla hills, from where it is possible to see the whole of Islamabad spread out in front, dominated by the towering minarets of the new Shah Faisal Mosque (shown above. Click on the picture for more details). The air, at some 1700 feet above sea-level is fresh and bracing. The nights are cool throughout the year and there are even occasional snow falls in the winter.