LoC: https://lccn.loc.gov/n80162448
Coordinates: 33.69362730181958, 73.06320235449708
Pakistan was created in 1947 as a geographically divided country formed by West Pakistan (Pakistan) and East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Although the language, culture, and history of the two wings of the country were different, a common religion was treated as a unifying principle that connected the people. Leaders believed that a strong administrative center was needed to minimize differences and emphasize common features of the people. The new capital city of Islamabad was conceived as a national symbol that would help unify the people.
The site for Islamabad was selected based on geographic, climatic, and symbolic considerations. The area just outside Rawalpindi was deemed climatically best suited, with enough water and land resources to support a capital city. It also provided a geographical and historical link with its Muslim neighbors in central and western Asia. In October 1960, Messrs Doxiadas Associates prepared the master plan for the new city, and construction started in October 1961. Islamabad literally means Islam's abode. It was designed to contribute to the organization and administration of the newly created state; become the center of the nation's history, civilization, culture, and tradition; signify the will of the people of Pakistan to contribute to the development of the economic, social and cultural environment of their country; and become the symbol of the new state towards which Pakistanis of both the East and West wing could look to for unity, guidance and the consolidation of their nation.
The Master Plan for the metropolitan area of Islamabad was prepared on the principle of "Dynapolis," which means a dynamic city, where the city centers grow in different direct proportion to the growth of residential functions. So, the city of Islamabad was developed based on new approaches and concepts of town planning. It was divided into sectors based on a grid pattern. The 'Administrative' sector was to the east of the city and contained all the important functionaries like the Presidency, Parliament, Central Secretariat, Supreme Court, etc. The northern side of this administrative sector is reserved for cultural complexes. The 'Public Buildings' area is located to the west of the 'Administrative' sector. The residential sectors are planned in rows on both sides of the 'Blue' area, which contains all the main civic and commercial centers. The 'Blue' area was designed in a linear form to allow parallel growth to the residential sectors. Each sector is a self-contained community with small market centers providing for all socio-economic needs. Larger marketplaces called 'Markaz' provide services like restaurants and shopping centers.
Sources:
Yakas, Orestes. 2001. Islamabad The Birth of a Capital. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 07, 20, 21.
Raza, M.Hanif. 1994. A souvenir of Islamabad. Islamabad: Tariq Associates, 13, 19, 20, 21.