Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. Islamabad is located in the Pothohar Plateau in the north of the country. The largest mosque “Faisal mosque” is situated in it. Islamabad's architecture is a combination of modernity and old Islamic and regional traditions. The total are of Islamabad is 906 square kilometres (350 sq mi). A further 2,717 square kilometres (1,049 sq mi) area is known as the Specified Area, with the Margala Hills in the north and northeast. Islamabad has a population of 1.70 million as of 2011.

Islamabad has the largest literacy rate at 87% in Pakistan. Most of the top famous universities and other educational institutes are located in this city including Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, International Islamic university and GIK.

Many famous buildings of Pakistan are situated over here i.e. Faisal Mosque, Serena Hotels, Parliament house, Pakistan Monument. Also many famous places for sports include: Jinnah sports complex, Liaquat Gymnasium, Islamabad club golf course, Yachting facility at Rawal lake, Islamabad club tennis courts and Mushaf Squash Complex. Moreover beautiful picnic spots are located in Islamabad for tourism i.e. Pir sohawa, Daman-e-Koh, Saidpur village, Rawal Lake and many more.

Islamabad Stock Exchange which was founded in 1989, is Pakistan's third largest stock exchange after Karachi Stock Exchange and Lahore Stock Exchange. Islamabad is connected to major destinations around the world through Islamabad International Airport which is now known as Benazir Bhutto International Airport. This airport is the third largest in Pakistan and is located outside Islamabad, in Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

At Golra Sharif, the shrine of Sufi mystic Pir Meher Ali Shah is located. This shrine has a rich cultural heritage of the pre-Islamic period. Archaeological remains of the Buddhist era can still be found in the region. The shrine of Bari Imam was built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Thousands of devotees from across Pakistan gather there to attend the annual Urs of Bari Imam. This event is one of the largest religious gatherings in Islamabad.

The Lok Virsa which is another famous place in Islamabad preserves the living folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. Near Shakarparian hills, the Folk Heritage Museum displays a large number of embroidered costumes, jewelry, woodwork, ivory, black printing and bone work from the region and other parts of Pakistan.

Islamabad has both government and private medical centres. Famous hospitals of Islamabad include: PIMS(Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences), Shifa International and PAEC.