What is the capital of Pakistan?
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. It was built as a planned city in the 1960s, replacing Karachi as the capital, and lies at the foot of the Margalla Hills.
When Pakistan became independent in 1947, Karachi on the southern coast was its first capital. In the late 1950s, the government decided to build a new capital in the north, near the city of Rawalpindi, which served as the temporary capital while Islamabad was constructed. Islamabad officially became the capital in 1967.
Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis designed the city with sectors, green belts and wide roads. It is one of the greenest cities in South Asia. Its most famous landmark is the Faisal Mosque, a striking modern mosque shaped like a desert tent, which can hold tens of thousands of worshippers.
Karachi and Lahore
Karachi remains Pakistan's largest city and main port, with a population of well over 15 million. Lahore, the second-largest city, is famous for Mughal-era sites such as the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort, and is often seen as the country's cultural heart.
Did You Know?
The name Islamabad means city of Islam. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are so close that they are often called twin cities.