Why Pakistan abandoned its original capital to build a planned city from scratch.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1959, Pakistan decided that Karachi was no longer suitable as a capital city. The government looked toward the Potwar Plateau, commissioning a new metropolis designed to harmonize traditional Islamic architecture with modern urban requirements. This ambitious project resulted in the creation of Islamabad, a planned federal territory.

The decision to relocate the capital was driven by the need for a purpose-built administrative center. Construction of Islamabad began on the Potwar Plateau, situated just nine miles northeast of Rawalpindi, which served as the interim capital from 1959 until 1969. While Rawalpindi boasts a deep history—having been inhabited by ancient yogis and later serving as a hub for Sikh adventurers and British colonial administration—it was deemed insufficient for the long-term needs of a new nation.

Islamabad was meticulously planned to integrate specific functional zones, including diplomatic, industrial, and residential sectors. The city’s development was supported by critical infrastructure, such as the Rawal Dam on the Kurang River, which was completed between 1961 and 1962 to provide a reliable water supply to both the new capital and neighboring Rawalpindi. This strategic planning allowed the territory to evolve into a distinct federal entity, separated from the surrounding districts to ensure administrative independence.

The region surrounding the capital is steeped in antiquity, once forming part of the ancient Gandhara civilization and the Achaemenid Persian empire. Nearby sites like the Buddhist stupa at Mankial and the ruins of Taxila highlight the historical depth of the landscape. Today, the Islamabad Capital Territory stands as a modern testament to 20th-century urban planning, balancing its role as a seat of government with the preservation of the natural beauty found at the foot of the Margalla Hills.

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