Islamabad Capital Territory

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Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan
Provincial capital Islamabad
Languages English (official)
Urdu (official)
Pothohari
Punjabi
Pashto
Population 955,629 [1]
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
Governor
Chief Minister
Govt of Islamabad Official Website
For the capital of Pakistan which is in Islamabad Capital Territory, see Islamabad.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT for short) 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, of this Islamabad city covers an area of 906 km², or 350 square miles.

Contents

[edit] History

The land was acquired from the North-West Frontier Province 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.
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 North-West Frontier Province is located to the north west.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Union Councils

ICT territorial flag
ICT territorial flag

Rural ICT is divided into 12 union councils. As far as development is concern, most of the Union Councils are neglected by the District Administration/CDA except for Union Council Koral which is the biggest and most developed union council of the ICT. This Union Council is working hard for the development of the area under the Administratorship of Assistant Commissioner of Islamabad, and with the rural and management skills of Mr Idrees Khan.

Efforts are being made towards the establishment of a local Government system in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), which is still not in place in ICT as local government systems exist in other parts of the country. In 2005, the Ministry of Interior divided the ICT into 40 union councils — 26 union councils in urban areas of the ICT, and 14 union councils in the rural areas. However, the Union Council system is yet to be implemented.

The table below lists the 20 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
2 Humak Humak, Kotha Kalan and Naizian
3 Sihala Sihala, Gagri, Mughal, Chak Kamidar, Nara Sayedan, Sandu, Chitroh, Herdogher, Jabi Gakhran, Ladhiot, Kangota, Sayedan, Jandala and Kangota Gujran
4 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
5 Khana Khana Dak, Gangal, Gandhian, Tarlai Khurd and Sodhar
6 Tarlai Kalan Tarlai Kalan, Chaper Mir-Khanal, Tramri, Tamma, Gohra Sardar, Chatha Bakhtawar and Khardapur
7 Kirpa Kirpa, Jhang Sayedan, Partal, Saknal, Panjgran, Frash and Ali Pur
8 Cherah Cherah, Herno Thanda Pani and Ara
9 Tumair Tumair, Kijnah, Sihali, New Simbli, Jandala, Jandgran, Garathian, Darkalai, Rakh Tumair A, Rakh Tumair B, Dakhian and Pind Begwal
10 Phulgran Phulgran, Shahpur, Sakrila, Dohala, Bbbri Betha, Athal, Maira Begwal, Chattar, Karlot, Hotran, Kathar, Mangal, Chaniari, Rakh Maira A & B and Malot
11 Bhara Kau Kot Hathial
12 Malpur Malpur, Shahdara (Malpur Rural), Jhang Bangial, Mandla, Subban, Mangial, Quaid-e-Azam University and Muslim Colony
13 Noorpur Shahan Noor Pur Shahan, Ratta Hoter, Talhar, Gokina and Saidpur
14 Kuri at Chak Shehzad Kuri, Rehara, Chak Shahzad, Majuhan, Mohrian, Gohra Baz, Mohra Jijan, Jagiot and Nogazi
15 Rawal Town Mohra Noor, Rawal Tonw, Rawal Colony, Mochi Mohra, Sumbal Korak (Katchi Abadi) and Sumbal Korak
16 Sohan Sohan, Kana Kak, Jaba Taili, Shakrial, Pindori, Sihana, Lakhwal, Chak Bera Sing, Kartal, Bohan, Dhoke Sharaf, Ojri Kalan & Khurd and Poona Faqiran
17 Golra Golra, Maira Bairi, Baker Akku, Dharek Mori, Maira Sumbal Aku, Maira Sumbal Jafer, Dharmian (F-11), E-10 (Sihala), Badia Rustam and Khan
18 Shah Allah Ditta Shah Allah Ditta, Seri Seral, Pind Sangral, Sara-e-Kharbooza, Johd, Siray Madhu, Bara Dari, Bakhar Fateh and Bakhsh
19 Jhangi Sayeda Jhangi Sayedan, Nothia, Thala Sayedan and Chailo, Sheikhpur, Kak, Noon, Narala and Bokra
20 Tarnol Bhadana Kalan, Tarnol, Pindi Parian, Naugazi, Dorey, Ahi Paswal, Sangjani and Bhadana Khurd

[edit] Area and population

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.

[edit] Notable tribes

Dhanyal is 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 Murree Hills. Other branches of the tribe live in Kashmir, Abbottabad, Sialkot and Hazara.

Dhanyals are famous for their bravery. Members of this tribe were recruited into the armies of the Mughal Empire, British Empire and, after the Indian colony achieved independence, into the Pakistani Army.

Since attaining independence from the British Empire in 1947 though, the Dhanyals living in urban areas have turned to other fields such as education, medicine, engineering and business and social sciences. The literacy rate of this tribe is 100%.

History: The name 'Dhanyal' is derived from Mohazzam Shah which was the name chief and famous Sufi saint of Lower Himalayas who shifted from Dhan (old name of Chakwal) in the late 12th century. The forefathers of Mohazzam Shah ruled Multan state for about 190 years. They were Alvis, and were shifted into Multan from Iraq in about the 8th century. Mohazzam Shah had supported Shahabuddin Ghouri to curb the activities of the Rajputs, who always attacked the Muslim armies of Shahbuddin Ghouri. Due to the influence of Mohassam Shah aias Hazrat Baba Dhani Pir, many non-Muslims of this area converted to Islam. Mohazzam Shah sacrificed his life in a battle against the Sikhs in Kashmir in the 13th century. Mohazzam Shah was the spiritual leader of the Dhanyal, Satti and Abbasi tribes in the area of Murree Hills, around the plains of Potohar and Kashmir.

Hazrat Baba Dhani Pir's shrine is situated in Mouri Sayyaedan, a valley on the Lehtrar road, in Islamabad. An Urs (annual death anniversary) is held every year, in April, at his shrine.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Education

Islamabad has some of Pakistan's major universities, including Quaid-e-Azam University, the International Islamic University, and the National University of Science 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 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:

[edit] Shah Faisal mosque

The Shah Faisal Mosque, at the foot of the Margalla Hills, is the national mosque of Pakistan. It represents an eight-faceted desert 'tent' supported on four giant concrete girders and surrounded by four 90-metre high concrete minarets. The central 'tent' is faced in white marble and decorated inside with mosaics and a spectacular chandelier. The mosque was designed by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, and largely financed by donations from Saudi Arabia. The mosque is named after former King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. There is a capacity for about 15,000 people inside the mosque, with room for another 85,000 in the courtyard.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Pakistan Portal
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Islamabad Capital Territory · Federally Administered Tribal Areas
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Coordinates: 33°40′N, 73°10′E