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When Pakistan gained independence from India in 1947, Karachi was elected as its first capital. Karachi, which was a major port and economic center at that time.
Karachi to Islamabad: The history of Pakistan’s capital is very interesting. It also has strategic meanings. When Pakistan gained independence from India in 1947, Karachi was elected as its first capital. Karachi, a major port and economic center at that time, was made the capital by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The city was not only the center of business activities, but Jinnah’s personal attachment was also from it, as millions of migrants (idioms) from India took refuge here after partition. But the growing population and other challenges of Karachi made it difficult to maintain it as the capital, resulting in the decision to move the capital to Islamabad.
Karachi remained the capital of Pak till 1959
Karachi, the major city of Pakistan, was the capital of the country till 1959. During this time the population of the city increased rapidly and reached close to 60 lakhs. This led to many problems in civil facilities, sanitation and security system. The coastal place of Karachi and the crowd there made it less suitable from administrative and strategic perspective. Apart from this, the southern place of Karachi used to create inconvenience in administrative works due to distance from the northern and central regions of the country. For these reasons, the then President Ayub Khan decided to build a new capital in 1958. Initially the capital was temporarily shifted to Rawalpindi, which was close to the headquarters of the Pakistani Army. Islamabad was developed as a planned city in the 1960s. It officially became the capital of Pakistan on 14 August 1967. Its construction started in 1960. Islamabad was selected for many strategic and geographical reasons.
Islamabad was designed by Greek architect
The city of Islamabad, famous for natural beauty, is located in the foothills of the Margala hills. Apart from this, Islamabad was placed in the northern part of the country, keeping it closer to administrative and military centers, especially the military headquarters of Rawalpindi. Islamabad was designed by the Greek architect Constantinos Apostolo doxiadis who developed it as a modern and systematic city. In this, the administrative area, diplomatic campus, residential areas, educational and industrial areas were divided into separate zones, so that the efficiency and beauty of the city remains. Another reason for making Islamabad the capital was a strategic situation with India, especially on the border dispute, on the Kashmir issue. The northern place of Islamabad made it important from military and strategic perspectives. Also, Islamabad was less crowded than Karachi. The city is today known for its greenery, hygiene and high living standard. This change not only strengthened Pakistan’s administrative structure, but also gave Islamabad a global identity as a newly planned city.
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