ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY

:''For the capital of Pakistan, 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

History

Introduction

Union Councils

Area and population

Climate

Education

Shah Faisal mosque

See also

External links

History

The land was acquired from the North-West Frontier Province 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:
#Rawalpindi; 259 km²
#Islamabad Proper (including the institutional and industrial areas); 220.15 km²
#Islamabad (Margalla Hills) Park; 220.15 km²
#Islamabad Rural Area; 446.20 km²
However, the city of Rawalpindi is no longer part of 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.

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.

Union Councils

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 20 union councils each cover the following regions of the ICT (the name in brackets refers to each council's jurisdiction, named after a main town in the area covered by each council, e.g. Rewat or Tarnol):
'Union Council No. 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.
'Union Council No. 2 (Humak):' Humak, Kotha Kalan and Naizian
'Union Council No. 3 (Sihala):' Sihala, Gagri, Mughal, Chak Kamidar, Nara Sayedan, Sandu, Chitroh, Herdogher, Jabi Gakhran, Ladhiot, Kangota, Sayedan, Jandala and Kangota Gujran.
'Union Council No. 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.
'Union Council No. 5 (Khana):' Khana Dak, Gangal, Gandhian, Tarlai Khurd and Sodhar.
'Union Council No. 6 (Tarlai Kalan):' Tarlai Kalan, Chaper Mir-Khanal, Tramri, Tamma, Gohra Sardar, Chatha Bakhtawar and Khardapur.
'Union Council No. 7 (Kirpa):' Kirpa, Jhang Sayedan, Partal, Saknal, Panjgran, Frash and Ali Pur.
'Union Council No. 8 (Cherah):' Cherah, Herno Thanda Pani and Ara.
'Union Council No. 9 (Tumair):' Tumair, Kijnah, Sihali, New Simbli, Jandala, Jandgran, Garathian, Darkalai, Rakh Tumair A, Rakh Tumair B, Dakhian and Pind Begwal.
'Union Council No. 10 (Phulgran):' Phulgran, Shahpur, Sakrila, Dohala, Bbbri Betha, Athal, Maira Begwal, Chattar, Karlot, Hotran, Kathar, Mangal, Chaniari, Rakh Maira A & B and Malot.
'Union Council No. 11 (Bhara Kau):' Kot Hathial.
'Union Council No.12 (Malpur);' Malpur, Shahdara (Malpur Rural), Jhang Bangial, Mandla, Subban, Mangial, Quaid-e-Azam University and Muslim Colony.
'Union Council No 13 (Noorpur Shahan):' Noor Pur Shahan, Ratta Hoter, Talhar, Gokina and Saidpur.
'Union Council No. 14 (Kuri at Chak Shehzad):' Kuri, Rehara, Chak Shahzad, Majuhan, Mohrian, Gohra Baz, Mohra Jijan, Jagiot and Nogazi.
'Union Council No. 15 (Rawal Town):' Mohra Noor, Rawal Tonw, Rawal Colony, Mochi Mohra, Sumbal Korak (Katchi Abadi) and Sumbal Korak.
'Union Council No. 16 (Sohan):' Sohan, Kana Kak, Jaba Taili, Shakrial, Pindori, Sihana, Lakhwal, Chak Bera Sing, Kartal, Bohan, Dhoke Sharaf, Ojri Kalan & Khurd and Poona Faqiran.
'Union Council No. 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.
'Union Council No. 18 (Shah Allah Ditta):' Shah Allah Ditta, Seri Seral, Pind Sangral, Sara-e-Kharbooza, Johd, Siray Madhu, Bara Dari, Bakhar Fateh and Bakhsh.
'Union Council No. 19 (Jhangi Sayeda):' Jhangi Sayedan, Nothia, Thala Sayedan and Chailo, Sheikhpur, Kak, Noon, Narala and Bokra.
'Union Council No. 20 (Tarnol):' Bhadana Kalan, Tarnol, Pindi Parian, Naugazi, Dorey, Ahi Paswal, Sangjani and Bhadana Khurd.

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.
'Notable tribes of Islamabad:'
'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 Himalyas 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.

Climate

The average humidity level is 55%, with an average rainfall of 1450 millimeters each year. The maximum average temperature is 29°C, but the minimum temperature attained here during the year is generally around 11°C.

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;

★ Air University

★ Al-Huda University

★ Allama Iqbal Open University

★ Bahria University

★ Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (a.k.a. C@SE)

★ COMSATS Institute of Information Technology

★ Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST)

★ Hamdard University

★ International Islamic University

★ Muhammad Ali Jinnah University

★ National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences(FAST-NUCES)

★ National University of Modern Languages

★ Institute of Space Technology

★ Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan

★ Iqra University

★ Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS)

★ Riphah International University

★ Shifa College of Medicine

★ Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST)

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.

See also

★ Islamabad Electric Supply Company

★ Model Town Humak

External links

;Official

★ Check Wikipedia Islamabad

★ Union Council Koral in Islamabad