A city of beauty and peace is what Islamabad is. Islamabad is a planned city and is located on a great place geographically. Though, geographical position of this place that was the main factor, this was selected for the Capital City of Pakistan on the basis of climate, aesthetics, natural beauty and defense requirements as well.
Islamabad is a city of colors, beautiful hills, greenery and freshness.
Islamabad was started building in 1960 and even though it became the capital city of the country in 1963, only in a decade it was being recognized as one of the most developed cities of the world of the century.
Karachi was the capital city of Pakistan before that. Leadership of the country at the time wanted to keep Karachi for and as a business city so they decided to take the political affairs of the country to Islamabad.
The place has elite hotels and cheap dhabas (mini outdoor restaurants) that serve good quality food at very low prices so that a common person, whether a tourist or a resident, does not have to spend too much on tea and snacks such as Parathas (fried tortilla), French Fries, Samosas, Pakoray, Chaat etc. The local vendors are there to serving the most amazing snacks that are Pakistan's speciality. Starting with the most amazing and very hot samosas that are served hot with the chutneys (sauces), loved by all as it does not have much of the spices thus the tourists seem to like it too. There are high-quality food servings too but in 4 or 5-star hotels such as The Monal, the restaurant serves all types of food, Italian, Chinese, Desi and other. People love to eat there sitting in its balcony like place where the tables and chairs have been set for the customers to have a perfect view of the mountains as the restaurant is situated on a height.
The place has a perfect balance of expensive places and less expensive restaurants so the money for the food is not the issue. Furthermore, there are many other places like the melody food park which has vendors and stalls for the food sellers to make some earning by selling their homemade eating goods. People are very environment friendly in the neighborhood and so an eco-friendly and affable environment is maintained in the place where people and friends chatter, eat and enjoying their quality time in the cool weather of the city.
Islamabad has a different kind of malls and markets that are both local and advanced for the locals and tourists from the groceries, other shopping stuff and special things and stuff from Pakistan's rural areas which have cultural value, most of the tourists interested in and look for.
The place is filled with the colors and is highly appreciated by the tourists too and sometimes even they brought back them as souvenirs or bought to keep at their own houses as a beautiful showpiece or as a memory of their Pakistan’s visit.
The people also go to the art galleries and other art festivals being held in the city all the time to buy or just enjoy the vibe of the talent that is in the air. The people of the city are creative and talented, especially the youth, they make all kind of things such as rugs, pottery, scarfs, cushions, paintings and many more, don’t think these things everyday ones, you’ll find them unique.
Moreover, the city has its own ways of transportation for the locals and the tourists that are inexpensive. Many locals travels by their own cars, motorcycles the ones who don't have any vehicle, they travels in Air Metro double-decker Buses. These buses are cheapest means of travel, mostly in less than 20 rupees to their destinations. The people appreciate the punctuality of the bus and the safe driving of the bus driver. Just like the other cities of many countries around the world, taxis are another of transport in Islamabad as well. Previously taxis were runing without being under any banner of some company but now they are being run under certified companies such as Careem or an Uber, these are also very economical for the people.
The city has been termed as the most literate city of Pakistan, literacy rate in the city exceeds 95% and the reason is people's mindset, they understand importance of education in a person's life and the role of an educated person in the society.
Some of the most famous universities of Pakistan are in Islamabad that includes the NUST
and the Quaid-e-Azam University. These Universities have very high standards, provide quality education and are recognized in the institutions around the world. Faculties include teachers who are are qualified from the local or foreign universities.
Hundreds of doctors graduate from medical universities of the city every year. Overall, education is a very serious matter for all the Islamabadis.
It won't be wrong to say that Islamabad is a green city, it has greenery in it, mountains and wild life in the surrounding areas, natural beauty is on its peak there.
All the places and building lie within the city premises and around the city were strategically planned and most of them enhance the beauty of the city whether they are dams, lakes, parks, museums, historical places and/or modern day architecures such as Simly Dam Lake, Rawal Lake, Margalla Hills, Hill View Park, Daman-e-Koh Park, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Pakistan Monument Museum, Taxila Museum, Rawat Fort, Jaulian Buddhist Stupa & Monastery, Bhir Mound, Bhamala Stupa, Mohra Moradu, Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers, Saudi Park Tower Building et cetera.
and, don't forget Faisal Mosque which is almost a wonder of modern day construction. The mosque is white and has a very beautiful structure and texture of the edifice.
References and Sources:
- Capital Development Authority - CDA
- Things to Do in Islamabad
- All the images which are taken from the internet are properly sourced under them.