Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad Capital Territory is Pakistan's purpose-built federal capital—a 906 km² planned city constructed from 1960 onward to replace Karachi as the seat of government. Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis designed the city on a grid system (sectors like F-6, G-7, I-8) that prioritized automobile access and government function over organic urban development. The territory houses the National Assembly, Supreme Court, diplomatic missions, and federal ministries in the Red Zone, while residential sectors extend northward toward the Margalla Hills. With 2+ million residents, Islamabad has evolved from a bureaucratic enclave into Pakistan's most developed city—highest literacy rates, best infrastructure, lowest poverty. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) administers the territory directly under federal control rather than provincial governance. Unlike commercial Karachi or cultural Lahore, Islamabad lacks the chaos and density of Pakistan's organically-grown megacities: wide boulevards, modern architecture, and green spaces create an atypical Pakistani urban experience. The Faisal Mosque (capacity 300,000) serves as both religious center and architectural landmark. The territory's privileged position—disproportionate infrastructure investment, federal salaries, security priority—draws criticism from provinces receiving less per-capita allocation.