Traffic jams and crowds seldom occur, and narrow lanes and slums are few and far between. Sidewalks are shaded and safe behind rows of flame trees, jacaranda and hibiscus. Roses, jasmine and bougainvillea fill the many parks. and scenic vantage-points show the city to its best advantage.Islamabad Pakistan's new capital nestles against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills, the foothills of the Himalaya at the northern end of the Potwar Plateau about 15 kilometres (ten miles) from Rawalpindi. Technically it is not part of Punjab, but forms its own Capital Authority. Modern, spacious and carefully planned, Islamabad is a city of wide, tree-lined streets, large houses, elegant public buildings and wellorganised bazaars. Traffic jams and crowds seldom occur, and narrow lanes and slums are few and far between. Sidewalks are shaded and safe behind rows of flame trees, jacaranda and hibiscus. Roses, jasmine and bougainvillea fill the many parks. and scenic vantage-points show the city to its best advantage.

The decision to build Islamabad was taken in 1958 during the tenure of President Ayub Khan. Karachi, the capital since Independence in 1947, and Pakistan's largest city and only port, proved unsatisfactory because of its distance from many parts of the country and its debilitating climate. Islamabad, on the other hand, offered a healthy climate, plenty of water and a central position on the Grand Trunk Road, close to Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province. That nearby Rawalpindi was the headquarters of the Pakistan army, was another consideration. Finally, the site had historical connections because of its proximity to Taxila, for many centuries the region's principal city.

A Greek firm of architects, Doxiadis Associates, drew up a master plan, triangular in shape, based on a grid system, with its apex towards the Margalla Hills. The planners envisaged Islamabad eventually absorbing Rawalpindi entirely and stretching well to the west of the Grand Trunk Road.

The city 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. The entire area was planted with trees in 1960, which in their maturity now give the capital a park-like atmosphere. Construction began in 1961, and the first residents moved in two years later. Meanwhile, government offices were temporarily moved up to Rawalpindi.

The 1962 Constitution of Pakistan confirmed Islamabad as the principal seat of the central government, although it was decided that the central legislature would be located in Dacca (now Dhaka), in what was then East Pakistan. It was only after the 1971 war, which resulted in East Pakistan becoming the independent country of Bangladesh, that Islamabad came fully into its own as the capital of Pakistan.

When to go:

At 518 metres (1,700 feet) above sea level, Islamabad is ants best from October to March, when days are crisp and nights are cold. Spring is short but intense, with flowers providing a riot of colour in March. The hottest months are May and June, before the monsoon, but even they are not oppressive. Abnormally hot weather can be escaped by taking a trip to Murree, a hill resort 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level, about an hour's drive away.