Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad Capital Territory
Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan
Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan (highlighted in dark red)
Territorial capital	Islamabad
Languages	Urdu (official and national) English (official) Punjabi Sindhi Pashto Balochi Potwari
Population	1,018,000 [1] (1999)
Revenue & NFC  - Share in national revenue  - Share receives	% (contribution)  % (from fed. govt)
Time zone	PST, UTC+5
Number of zones	8
Number of towns
Number of UCs
President	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Yousaf Raza Gilani
High Court	Islamabad High Court
Govt of Islamabad Official Website

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) (Urdu:وفاقی دارالحکومت) is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² (450 mi²) of which 906 km² (349.8 mi²) is Islamabad proper. It is represented in the National Assembly by two constituencies, namely NA-48 and NA-49.

History

The land was acquired from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab in 1960, for the purpose of establishing Pakistan's new capital. According to the 1960 master plan, the ICT included the city of Rawalpindi, and was to be utilized as following:

1. Rawalpindi; 259 km²
2. Islamabad Proper (including the institutional and industrial areas); 220.15 km²
3. Islamabad (Margalla Hills) Park; 220.15 km²
4. Islamabad Rural Area; 446.20 km²

The five zones of Islamabad

However, the city of Rawalpindi was eventually excluded from ICT. The remainder of the territory is now subdivided into 5 zones, with zone I designated to house all the residential, industrial and government institutions. Punjab is located to the south of the ICT, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is located to the north west.

Introduction

Islamabad was designed and built to be a modern capital for Pakistan. It is located amongst the Margalla Hills at the northern end of Potohar Plateau. It was established in 1960, on the orders of then President General Ayub Khan.

The capital is full of natural terraces and meadows, and covers the southern plain, which is drained by the Kurang River. The Margalla Hills lie to the north east of the ICT.

Islamabad nestles against the backdrop of the Margallah Hills at the northern end of Potohar Plateau. Its climate is healthy, pollution free, plentiful in water resources and lush green. It is a modern and carefully planned city with wide roads and avenues, elegant public buildings and well-organized bazaars, markets, and shopping centers.

The city is divided into eight basic zones: Administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors, commercial areas, and rural and green areas.

Union Councils

Islamabad is administratively divided into two segments, namely Islamabad Urban and Islamabad rural. The rural area is further divided into twelve union councils, comprising some 133 villages. The table below lists the 12 union councils, each union council is named after the main town (e.g. Rewat or Tarnol), and shows the areas under its jurisdiction.

Union Councils of Islamabad Capital Territory

	Chief town	Jurisdiction
1	Rewat	Rewat, Bhangreel Kalan, Bhangreel Khurd, Kortara, Takht Pari, Shadi Dhamial, Mohra Amir, Sood Gangal, Mohri Khumbal, Sheikhpur, Hoon Dhamial, Chuchkal and Bhima Kanait, Kotha Kalan and Naizian
2	Sihala	Sihala, Gagri,Pind, Mughal, Chak Kamidar, Nara Sayedan, Sandu, Chitroh, Herdogher, Jabi Gakhran, Ladhiot, Kangota, Sayedan, Jandala and Kangota Gujran
3	Koral	Koral, Lohi Bher, Choocha, Rakh Lohi Bher, Pagh, Panwal, Bora Bangial, Bukher, Khathreel, Dhaliala, Pind Dia, Paija, Darwala, Sher Dhamial, Pindi Malkan, Pindori Hathial, Pindori Sayedan, Bhimber Trar, Gohra Mast, Sigga, Channi Mahsu and Khan
4	Tarlai Kalan	Tarlai Kalan, Chaper Mir-Khanal, Tramri, Tamma, Gohra Sardar, Chatha Bakhtawar and Khardapur
5	Kirpa	Kirpa, Jhang Sayedan, Partal, Saknal, Panjgran, Alipur Farash
6	Cherah	Cherah, Herno Thanda Pani and Ara
7	Tumair	Tumair, Kijnah, Sihali, New Simbli, Jandala, Jandgran, Garathian, Darkalai, Rakh Tumair A, Rakh Tumair B, Dakhian
8	Phulgran	Phulgran, Shahpur, Sakrila, Dohala, Babbri Betha, Athal, Maira Begwal, Chattar, Karlot, Hotran, Kathar, Mangal, Pind Begwal, Chaniari, Rakh Maira A & B
9	Bhara Kau	Kot Hathyal, Shahdara, Jhang Begial, Mandla, Subban,Mangial, MalPur, Rumali, Mohra Noor, Quaid-e- Azam University
10	Kuri	Kuri, Rehara, Chak Shahzad, Malot, Majuhan, Mohrian, Gohra Baz, Mohra Jijan, Jagiot and Nogazi
11	Sohan	Sohan, Kana Kak, Jaba Taili, New Shakrial, Pindori, Sihana, Lakhwal, Chak Bera Sing, Kartal, Bohan, Dhoke Sharaf, Ojri Kalan & Khurd and Poona Faqiran
12	Golra Sharif	Golra Sharif, Maira Bairi, Baker Akku, Dharek Mori, Maira Sumbal Aku, Maira Sumbal Jafer, Dharmian (F-11), E-10 (Sihala), Badia Rustam and Khan
13	Shah Allah Ditta	Shah Allah Ditta, Talhaar, Johri, Gokina and Saidpur
14	Jhangi Sayedan	Jhangi Sayedan, Nothia, Thala Sayedan and Chailo, Sheikhpur, Kak, Noon, Narala and Bokra
15	Tarnol	Bhadana Kalan, Tarnol, Pindi Parian, Naugazi, Dorey, Ahi Paswal, Sangjani and Bhadana Khurd

Area and population

Islamabad Guide Map for area under CDA

The city is divided into eight basic zone types:

• Administrative zone;
• Diplomatic Enclave zone;
• Residential Areas;
• Educational Sectors;
• Industrial Sectors;
• Commercial Areas;
• Rural Areas;
• Green Areas

Each sector has its own shopping area, a green belt (which goes across the whole sector in a straight line) and public park. The population of the city is around 950,000 people of which 66% is urban. It is thus the most advanced region in Pakistan. It has an area of about 910 square kilometres. The city lies at latitudes 33° 49' north and longitudes 72° 24' east with altitudes ranging from 457 to 610 meters.

Notable tribes

Further information: Tribes and clans of the Pothohar Plateau

While urban Islamabad is home to people from all over Pakistan, the rural areas are home to a number of Pothohari speaking tribal communities. Here are the main ones:

Awan

Awans are the main tribe in the region in and around the town of Golra Sharif and the village Sohan and some are also found in the villages of Tarlai Kalan and Malot, as well as along the border with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Dhanyal

They are one of the largest tribes living in the areas on the Potohar plateau and Lower Himalayas. This tribe traces their lineage to Ali ibn Abi-Talib. Most of the Dhanyals are settled in the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and in the Muree Hills. Other branches of the tribe live in Azad Kashmir, Abbottabad, Sialkot and Hazara. Their main villages in the Capital Territory are Tumair Chirah Pehont Kirpa Pind Begwal and Merabegwal.

Dhund

The Dhund are another arge tribe, found all along the Murree Tehsil frontier. The villages of Shahadra, Bhara Kahu and Phulgran are famous villages in vicinity of Islamabad

Gakhar or Kayanis

The region is home a large community of Gakhar or Kayanis, who were historically rulers of the region. Rawalpindi had been the main city of Gakhars and ruled by last ruler of Gakhar Sultan Muqrab Khan, who was defeated by the Sikhs. At present Ghakkars villages include Malpur, Rehara, Chatta (kund rajgan), Malot, Seevra, Bharakau, New Parian, New Malper and Dodocha.

Gujar

The Gujar are found throughout rural ICT. The largest Gujjar settlement was the village of Dhok Chaudhary Jevan, which now part of Sector E 7. Most of these Gujjars are now living in Chaudhary Umar Abad. Other Gujjar villages include Ahdi Paswal, Turnol and Talhar.

Jat

The Jat are found in the Union Council Kuri in the village of Mohrian and Tarlai Kalan where the Thathal clan, and Chatha clan are is found the village of Bakhtawar Chatha. Other Jat villages include Thandapani, Nilore, Tumair, Darkalla, and Alipur,

Rajputs

The ICT territory is home a large community of Rajputs, who were historically rulers of the region. Among the clans of Rajputs, the Mangral are found in the village of Phulgran, while the Matyals are found in Gagri, Union Council Sihala, while the Janjuas are found in Union Council Bhara Kahu.

Other clans include the Dhamial, Bangial, Ranial, Chohan, Bhains, Baghial, Khumbal, Gangal, Bashan, Janjua and Hon Rajputs.

Other Rajput villages include Bhangreel Kalan, Bhangreel Khurd, Kortara, Takht Pari, Shadi Dhamial, Mohra Amir, Sood Gangal, Mohri Khumbal, Hoon Dhamial, and Bhima Kanait.

Climate

The average humidity level is 55%, with an average rainfall of 1450 millimeters each year. The maximum average temperature is 29 °C and the minimum average temperature attained here during the year is generally around 11 °C. Reminiscent of tropical climate, Islamabad retains mild winters and has never recorded snowfall.

Education

Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in all over Pakistan at 85%. and also has some of Pakistan's major universities, including Quaid-i-Azam University, the International Islamic University, and the National University of Sciences and Technology.

Quaid-e-Azam University offers courses in a number of subjects. The institute is located in a semi-hilly area, east of the Secretariat buildings and near the base of Margala Hills. This Post-Graduate institute is spread over 1,500 acres (6.1 km²). Major buildings of the campus have been designed in such a way as to form an axial spine with the library in the center. Other universities situated in Islamabad, other than those mentioned above, include the following:

• Air University
• Al-Huda University
• Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) distance education university covering all Pakistan and AJK
• Bahria University
• Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE)
• COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT)
• Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST)
• Hamdard University
• Mohammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU)
• National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences(FAST-NUCES)
• National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
• Institute of Space Technology
• Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP)
• Iqra University
• Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS)
• Riphah International University
• Shifa College of Medicine
• Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST)

See also

Territory symbols (unofficial)

Territory animal	Rhesus Macaque
Territory bird	Rose-ringed Parakeet
Territory tree	Paper Mulberry
Territory flower	Red rose

• Capital Territory Police
• Faisal Mosque
• Islamabad Electric Supply Company
• Model Town Humak
• International Islamic University Islamabad
• Preston University Islamabad Campus

External links

• Government of the Islamabad Capital Territory
• Islamabad Capital Territory at the Open Directory Project
• Islamabad travel guide from Wikitravel
• Capital Development Authority