The Islamabad Capital Territory is a federal territory of Pakistan, centred around Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It is located on the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau, at the foot of the Margalla Hills, in the northwestern Punjab region. The Territory shares borders with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the west and the other districts of the province of Punjab in the remaining directions. It covers an area of and, according to 2023 census, has a population of over 2.3 million.

Islamabad Capital Territory has been a part of Punjab Province ever since, though federally administered. The latest official political map of Pakistan released in 2020, as well as many older official maps, shows it as part of Punjab Province.

The area was separated from Rawalpindi District in 1967 to form a separate territory administered by the federal government. The territory is represented in the National Assembly by NA-52, NA-53, and NA-54 constituencies and by four seats in the Senate.

History

In 1960, land was transferred from the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province to replace the Karachi Federal Capital Territory and establish Pakistan's new capital. According to the 1960s master plan, the territory included much of what was Rawalpindi, and composed of the following parts: Rawalpindi, Islamabad Urban, Margalla Hills, Islamabad Rural,

However, Rawalpindi was eventually excluded from the Islamabad master plan in the 1980s.

Geography

The Islamabad Capital Territory is composed of eight types of areas: administrative, commercial, diplomatic, educational, green, industrial, residential, and rural.

Zones

The territory is divided into five zones in two groups: Zone I: for urban development and federal government institutions Zone II: for urban development Zone III: for rural development Zone IV: for rural development Zone V: for rural development

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 4 square kilometres. The sectors are lettered from A to I, and each sector is divided into four numbered sub-sectors. Zone IV is the largest in area.

Sectors

Series A, B, and C are still underdeveloped. The D series has seven sectors (D-11 to D-17), of which only sector D-12 is completely developed. This series is located at the foot of Margalla Hills. The E Sectors are named from E-7 to E-17. Many foreigners and diplomatic personnel are housed in these sectors. 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 of Bahria University, Air University, and the National Defence University. 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. 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. The Centaurus complex will be one of the major landmarks of the F-8 sector. G sectors are numbered G-5 through G-17. 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.

The H sectors are numbered H-8 through H-17. 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. 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. 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.

Climate

Seasons 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).

Temperatures The temperatures range from in January to in June. The hottest month is June, where average highs routinely exceed , while the coolest month is January. The highest recorded temperature was on 23 June 2005 while the lowest temperature was on 17 January 1967. 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.

Precipitation The wettest month is July, with heavy rainfalls and evening thunderstorms with the possibility of cloudburst and flooding. Highest monthly rainfall of was recorded during July 1995. On 23 July 2001, Islamabad received a record breaking 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. The city has also experienced snowfall on a number of occasions. 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 from Islamabad. Simli Dam is north of Islamabad.

Vegetation Around of the city consists of the Margalla Hills National Park, while the Loi Bher Forest is situated along the Islamabad Highway, covering an area of .

Government

The government of the Islamabad Capital Territory is provided by the federal Government of Pakistan and by a number of territorial bodies. Article 258 of the Constitution of Pakistan stipulates that the President of Pakistan is responsible for establishing the government of the federal capital and the Parliament of Pakistan makes laws for the territory. Although the federal government retains strategic power over the territory, the day to day government is carried out by a number of bodies, which have been established over the years.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA), established on 14 June 1960, was responsible for building the capital and continues to have some government roles. The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) was established in 1980, and is led by a Chief Commissioner, who holds powers similar to a provincial government. The Islamabad High Court, established in 2007 (dissolved in 2008, re-established in 2010) is the senior court of the territory and is equivalent to the four provincial high courts. The Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (MCI), established in 2015, is the municipal authority and is equivalent to a district government, as the upper tier of the local government in the territory. The CDA has been gradually transferring many of its roles to the MCI.

At the most local level, there are 101 union councils, though this is due to increase to 125 councils.

Union councils At the most local level, the Territory comprises 101 union councils, though this is due to increase to 125 Union councils.

+Incomplete list of union councils UC # Chief locality Localities within jurisdiction 1 Saidpur Said Pur, Gokina, Talhar 2 Noorpur Shahan Noorpur Shahan, Ratta Hutar 3Mal Pur Mal Pur, Romali, Nariyas, Phadu, Shahdrah Khurd, Shahdrah Kalan, Mandala, Jang Begial, Subban Syedan, Mangial, Quaid-e-Azam University 4Kot Hathial (Shamal) Kot Hathial, Bhara Kahu, Nayiabadi, Muhallah Alnoor, Muhallah Ban, Muhallah Malkan, Dhok Syedan 5Kot Hathial (Janoob) Kot Hathial, Nainsukh, Barakahu, Behra Syedan, Muhallah Ghousia, Sharak-e-Madina, Dhok Jilani, Muhallah Malikabad 6 Phulgran Phulgran, Phul Garan, Dhok Kuch, Abbasiabad, Dhok Badhan, Muhallah Kangar, Mahallah Ranjpuran, Shahpur, Bobry, Karlot Chattar, Mohra Rajpoota, Muhallah Sumbul, Bani Gala 7 Pind Begwal Pind Begwal, Bainala, Maira Biguwal, Atthal, Dhok Sajjal, Dhok Nanda Sihali, Jandala, Simli 8 Tumair Tumair, Pihont, Chakhtan, Darkalam, Kanjnah 9Charah Charah, Dhok Maira, Dhok Las, Kiani, Dhok Haveli 10Kirpa Kirpa, Ladhiot Syedan, Pind Malikan, Dhok Ban, Bhimbar Tarar, Mahallah Haveli Rajgan, Mehfozabad, Chaniol, Muhallah Chaudrian, Ara, Gora Mast, Dhok Jogian Harnu, Chauntra Sogran 11Mughal Mughal, Hardoghar, Kangota Gujjran Sihala, Hondamial, Nara Syedan, Chuchkal Chakiyan, Chak Kamdar 12 Rawat Rawat, Bhangrial Kalan, Banni Saran, Mohra Nagial, Sawan, Bagga Shaikhan 13 Humak Humak, Kaniyal, Gora Syedan, Niazian 14 Sihala Sihala Khurd, Maira Dakhli, Bhandar Sihala, Jarki Sihala, Gagri Sihala, Jhundla, Kangota Syedan, Gura Mistriyan 15 Lohi Bhair Lohi Bhar, Shahrak-e-Korang, Bagh-e-Sawan, Shahrak-e-Pakistan 16Darwala Darwala, Dhaliala, Panwal, Chucha Sheikhiyan, Bhair, Kanghar, Sher Ghamial, Dhok Kavgar, Kathrial, Chucha, Dhok Kashimiriya, Harn maira, Malali, Bun koutha, Pahg Panwal, Farash, Bangiyal 17 Koral Koral, Tarlai Khurd, Gangal, Chaklala, Shareefabad, Gohra Sardar, Tarlai 18Khana Dak Khana Dak, Dhok Jabba, Pindorian, Shahrak-e-Bilal, Shahrak-e-Barma, Shahrak-e-Madina, Muhallah Wahid Abad, Shahrak-e-Masih) 19 Tarlai Kalan Tarlai Kalan, Irfanabad, Chappar Meer Khanal, Sahana 20 Ali Pur Ali Pur, Alipur, Jhang Syedan, Partal, Khadrapar, Farash, 21 Sohan Sohan Dehati, Khana Kak, Shakrial, Shakrial (Sharki) 22 Chak Shahzad Chak Shahzad, Chak Bihra Shigh, Jaba Teli, Sohana, Pandori, Chhatta Bakhtawar, Bohan, Dhoke Sharaf, Mujuhan 23 Kuri Kuri, Malot, Rakh Bani Gala, Rihara, Mohra Jujan 24Shahrak-e-Rawal Shahrak-e-Rawal, Shahrak-e-Margala, Sumbal Korakh, Puna Faqeeran, Mohrian 25 Sector F-6 F-6/1, F-6/2, F-6/3, F-6/4, Farooqi Bazar, Madni Masjid, Dhobi Gat 26 Sector G-6/1 27 Sector G-6 Sector G-6/2, Sector G-6/3 & Sector G-6/4 28 Sector F-7, F-8, F-9 29 Sector F-10, F-11 30 Sector G-7/3, G-7/4 31 Sector G-7/1, G-7/2 32 Sector G-8/3, G-8/4 33 Sector G-8/1, G-8/2 34 Sector G-9 Sector G-9/1, G-9/3, G-9/4 35 Sector G-9/2 36 Sector G-10/3, G-10/4 37 Sector G-10/1, G-10/2 38 Sector G-11 Sector G-11/1, G-11/2, G-11/3, G-11/4 39 Maira Sumbal Jaffar Maira Sumbal Jaffar, Golra Sharif, Badia Rusmat Khan, Maira Akku, Dhareek Mohri, Shahrak-e-Effaq40G-13 40 Sector I-8 Sector I-8/1, I8/2, I8/3, I8/4 41 Sector I-9 42 Sector I-10/1 43 Sector I-10 Sector I-10/2, I-10/3, I-10/4 44Bokra Bokra, Haji Complex, Soria Harboza, Mouza Sorain, Peer Wadhai, Shahrak-e-Iqbal 45Jhangi Saydan 46Village Noon Badhana Kalan, Dhoke Makhan, ETC 47Tarnol 48Sarai Kharbooza 49 Shah Allah Ditta 50 Golra Sharif

Demographics

Population

According to the 2023 Census, Islamabad Capital Territory had a population of 2,363,863.

Language

According to 2023 Pakistani census, there are 1,154,540 Punjabi, 415,838 Pashto, 358,922 Urdu, 140,780 Hindko, 51,920 Kashmiri, 46,270 Saraiki, 21,362 Sindhi, 10,315 Balti, 7,099 Shina, 5,016 Koshistani, 4,503 Balochi, 1,095 Mewati, 668 Brahvi, 182 Kalasha and 64,734 others, of total 2,283,244 speakers.

After Islamabad's establishment, people from all around Pakistan shifted here which led to a diverse demographics. Punjabis constitute the largest ethnolinguistic population in the territory, with many having settled here from Punjab province as well. Pothwari dialect, which has been regarded by many as the dialect of Punjabi, has historically been the indigenous language of the region; and Punjabi still continues to be the most-widely spoken first language in Islamabad, with Punjabi-speakers forming a majority of the population. Punjabi is spoken in the form of many dialects and varieties, including the Majhi, Dhani, Shahpuri, Jhangvi, and Doabi dialects.

Religion