1. A PRESENTATION ON
PLANNING OF ISLAMABAD
(CAPITAL CITY OF PAKISTAN)
UMAIR ALI
ANAS JAMEEL

2. INTRODUCTION
Islamabad is the capital city of
Pakistan, and is located in the
Potohar Plateau in the northwest of
the country. The area has historically
been a part of the crossroads of the
Rawalpindi and the North-West
Frontier Province Islamabad is
located at 33°40′N, 73°10′E.

3. NEED OF ISLAMABAD
After independence in
1947, Pakistan realized the need of
capital city to serve the new state.
Than, Islamabad, a new capital of
Pakistan was conceived in
1959, planned from 1959 to 1963
by a Greek architect-planner C. A.
Doxiadis, and started
implementation in 1961.
MAP OF ISLAMABAD’

4. SITE SELECTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
Site is directly connected to Grand
Truck (GT) Road site for Islamabad.
LOCATION MAP
Site was selected by its close proximity
to the existing urban area of
Rawalpind.
Rawalpindi helped in the development
of Islamabad by providing the access
to existing transport network.
supplying labour for the development
and accommodating early inhabitants
and offices for Islamabad (ibid).

5. ZONING OF SITE
The land was acquired from the
North-West Frontier Province and
Punjab 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:
1. Rawalpindi; 259 km²
2. Islamabad Proper (including the
institutional and industrial areas);
220.15 km²
3. Islamabad (Margalla Hills) Park;
220.15 km²
4. Islamabad Rural Area; 446.20 km²

6. GRID IRON PATTERN
The city was conceived into grid-iron patterns developed into 2 kilometers by 2
kilometers sectors segregated by the hierarchy of wide principal roads (60 ft.)
comprising Islamabad and Rawalpindi area.
The sectors were used for distinct land uses such as
residential, educational, commercial and administrative.
Housing is provided in grid-iron pattern sectors on disciplined hierarchy of
communities according to their income groups.
In the square grid of sectors, four communities clustered around an enlarged
shopping centre. To slow down traffic, shopping activities were organized in the
centre of a larger square settlement.


7. 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 and public park. The
population of the city 66% is urban. It is thus the most advanced region in
Pakistan.
Islamabad is divided into several different sectors, each identified by a letter of
the Roman alphabet and a number, with each sector covering an area of
approximately 2 km x 2 km. Each sector is further divided into 4 sub-sectors.
The sectors currently in use are lettered from D to I.

8. DYNAPOLIS
The cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will develop as twin cities
serving each other in complementary ways. Islamabad will be the capital
of the nation and will serve mainly administrative and cultural functions.
Rawalpindi will remain the regional center serving industrial and
commercial functions.
The master plan for both cities has the flexibility to allow for future
expansions of the center. It has been designed on the basis of the ideal
city of the future and to form a dyna-metropolis. Each is planned to
develop dynamically towards the south-west, their center cores growing
simultaneously and together with their residential and other functions..
Overall, Botka (1995) found this concept very useful for long term benefit
of the city.

9. HIERARCHICAL DISTRIBUTION
ROADS
OF
Islamabad is planned according to a hierarchical system of communities of
various classes, each class comprising the functions corresponding to its
size.
These communities are properly served by a major transportation system
developed within wide corridors of a grid-iron configuration.
Local and collector low speed roads, wide sidewalks, pedestrian roads and
bicycles lanes within the lower class “human communities” provide access
to the major transportation system.
The above hierarchical system of communities and transportation
facilities, contributes to the reduction of travel distances/times and
accidents, and to the promotion of“green transport” (walking, cycling, public
transport).

10. 120, 60, 30 ft

12. COMMUNICATION AND TRAFFIC
CONTROL
Types of street or road system
used in islamabad are rectangular
or grid iron street system the street
have equal width and they cross
each other at right angle
The advantage of this system is
convinient to traffic and so a
speedy and free traffic can be
maintained.
The houses are constructed in
rectangular blocks so
convinient, economical and most
suited for building construction
There is no wastage of land since
no irregular portion are left out.

13. • But the disadvantages of this system are they don’t provide short cuts
which provide a direct access to trad and shoppng centres.
•Since islamabad is situated on the POTOHAR plateue the surface is
uneven.where grid iron street pattern become
inconvenience, discomfortand moreover it become expensive.
• In spite of the undulating Plain of Potwar having deeply eroded water
courses, the main roads aligned straight. In fact, Taylor (1967) found that
straight roads resulted roller-coaster gradients for some areas.
•That’s why diaxodis didn’t follow ths pattern strctly but at certain points
follows follows terrain.
• Grid iron pattern provided in road system is the greatest enemy of traffic
and and road users (CLARENCE STIEN). Bcoz it provided too many
junctions and crossing, and there is more chances of road accidents

14. Local road