Islamabad

Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, lies against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills at the northern end of Pothowar Plateau, 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Rawalpindi, the former interim capital. It offers a healthy climate, pollution free atmosphere, plenty of water and lush green area. The city's site was chosen by a commission in 1959 after Karachi was found unsuitable as the capital. Construction began in 1961 with an effort to blend traditional Islamic architecture with modern requirements and in 1967 Islamabad replaced Karachi as the capital, but the government did not fully relocate to the city from Rawalpindi until the 1980s. The name “Islamabad” was chosen to reflect the country’s ideology. The planning and construction was largely headed by the Greek urban planner Constantinos A. Doxiadis which divided the urban area into eight main zones: administrative, diplomatic, residential, institutional, industrial, and commercial areas, a greenbelt, and a national park. Islamabad today is the heart of Pakistan, a charming city which perfectly symbolizes the aspirations of a young and dynamic nation that looks forward to a glorious future for its people, a city which accepts modern ideas but at the same time recognizes and cherishes its traditional values and its past history.

Karachi

Karachi, the capital of Sindh, is the most populous city in Pakistan. It is the economic and business capital of the country with a population of over 14 million residents. It is also locally referred to as the ‘City of Lights’. Karachi has a fairly mild climate with moderate winters and hot summers. Due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea, cool breezes temper the heat of summer. Winter extends from November to February which is the best time to visit the city. Karachi, being the financial capital of Pakistan, handles most of its international trade. It was recently termed as the most business-friendly town in the country. The city is economically diverse with the most important industries being textiles, steel and pharmaceuticals.

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Islamabad. With a population of about 3,000,000, the city is also known as Pindi. Since ancient times, Rawalpindi has been known as a military city; today, it is an economically active city with many industries and factories. Rawalpindi’s climate is highly unpredictable and varies from tropical to continental. Summers range from mild to scorching hot while winters are often chilling. Rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the city with the period of July to September receiving maximum rainfall. Rawalpindi has a 3000-year-old history. Today, it is the military headquarters of the Pakistani Armed Forces. Also, the Islamabad International Airport is in Rawalpindi, serving the country along with Islamabad.