Pakistan's military dictator Ayub Khan decided to shift the capital city from Karachi to Islamabad in late 1950 as Karachi had become economic hub of the country and the infrastructure of the city was proving inadequate for the growing needs of the city. Before 1947 Karachi's population was barely one million but after independence of India and creation of Pakistan, over 6 million refugees from India settled in Karachi and many civic problems arose including that of transport and sanitation and water and sewerage services were proving inadequate and many slum areas had arisen.
Islamabad city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital. However the capital was not moved directly from Karachi to Islamabad but first moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi then to Islamabad.
The development of the country was focused on Karachi and President Ayub Khan wanted it to be equally distributed. He wanted Islamabad to be a modern and clean city, especially in comparison to other cities in Pakistan. It is well-organized, with the city being divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad was divided into eight zones: the diplomatic enclave, the commercial district, the educational sector, the industrial area and so on, each with its own shopping area and park. Islamabad is also home to the Faisal Masjid which is well known for its architecture and immense size.
A site north of Rawalpindi was chosen to be named as Islamabad and the new capital city of the country. Rawalpindi was designated as the temporary capital. In 1959 the site of Islamabad was chosen to replace Karachi as the capital of Pakistan. The master plan of this modern city was prepared in 1960 by M/s. Constantinos A Doxiades, a Greek firm of Architects. Construction was started in October 1961, and the city came into life on 26 October, 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied. In 1967 Islamabad was officially made the capital, and work on the city's principal buildings, streets, and facilities was completed by the mid-1970s.
Ref:
www.pakistanpaedia.com
> When Capital of Pakistan was shifted from Khi to Islamabad - 1959
> When Isb was officially declared the capital - 1967
Islamabad city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital. However the capital was not moved directly from Karachi to Islamabad but first moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi then to Islamabad.
The development of the country was focused on Karachi and President Ayub Khan wanted it to be equally distributed. He wanted Islamabad to be a modern and clean city, especially in comparison to other cities in Pakistan. It is well-organized, with the city being divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad was divided into eight zones: the diplomatic enclave, the commercial district, the educational sector, the industrial area and so on, each with its own shopping area and park. Islamabad is also home to the Faisal Masjid which is well known for its architecture and immense size.
A site north of Rawalpindi was chosen to be named as Islamabad and the new capital city of the country. Rawalpindi was designated as the temporary capital. In 1959 the site of Islamabad was chosen to replace Karachi as the capital of Pakistan. The master plan of this modern city was prepared in 1960 by M/s. Constantinos A Doxiades, a Greek firm of Architects. Construction was started in October 1961, and the city came into life on 26 October, 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied. In 1967 Islamabad was officially made the capital, and work on the city's principal buildings, streets, and facilities was completed by the mid-1970s.
Ref:
www.pakistanpaedia.com
> When Capital of Pakistan was shifted from Khi to Islamabad - 1959
> When Isb was officially declared the capital - 1967