The master plan of this most modern city was prepared in 1960 by M/S Constantions oxiades, a Greek firm of Architects. Construction was started in October 1961. The city came into life on 26 October 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied. It is modern and carefully planned city.

There are ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills.

ROSE AND JASMINE GARDEN
This 20,360 sq. Meters rose garden is famous for its roses. It has 250 different varieties of roses as well as a dozen types of Jasmines, Flower shows are occasionally held here, particularly during spring. Nearby is the Tourist Camping Site.

SHAKARPARIAN HILLS
Shakarparian hills are situated near Zero Point, at a height of 609 meters. Its terraced garden offers pleasant and sweeping vistas of Margalla and Murree hills, Rawal Lake, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Snack Bar facilities are available.

RAWAL LAKE
This glistening man-made lake covers an area of 8.8 sq.km. The terraced garden and the lake are ideal for picnic, fishing and boating. The highest point in the garden commands a panoramic view of the lake, Margalla and Murree hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

DAMAN-E-KOH
This low hill over looking Islamabad, known as Daman-e-Koh, offers panoramic view of Islamabad. Snack bar facilities are available at PTD’s Daman-e-Koh Restaurant. The place is ideal for afternoon and evening outing with family and friends.

MURGHZAR MINI ZOO AND CHILDREN’S PARK
Murghzar Mini Zoo is located at the foot of Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. A display corner of Pakistan Museum of Natural History and a Japanese style children’s park have also been established near the Zoo. The Park is a gift to Pakistani children from the children of Japan.

ISLAMABAD SPORTS COMPLEX
A Sports Complex comprising Liaquat Gymnasium for indoor games and Jinnah Stadium for outdoor games has been built with the Chinese assistance. It is located on Shahrah-e-Kashmir near Aabpara. Regular national and international sports events are held in the Complex. For details, please contact Pakistan Sports Board, Islamabad Sports Complex, Shahrah-e-Kashmir, Islamabad (Tel: 9202418-20)

LOK VIRSA
The Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage) works towards preserving the living folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. Its Folk Heritage Museum, located near Shakarparian Hills, has a large display of embroidered costumes. Jewellery, woodwork, metalwork, block printing, ivory and bone work. Traditional architecture facades exhibiting such skills as fresco, mirror work, marble inlay, tile mosaic and stucco tracery are also displayed. Lok Virsa Heritage Reference Library is equipped with resource data on ethnography, anthropology folk music, art, history and crafts. Museum and Library timings are 8:30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Sunday closed (Tel: 9201651, 9203983).

Books on culture and heritage, audio and video cassettes of folk and classical vocal and instrumental music are available for sale at Lok Virsa’s Sales Centre.

ART GALLERIES
Idara Saqafat-e-Pakistan (Pakistan National Council of the Arts) runs two art galleries. The National Gallery is located at House # 77, Street # 48, F-7/4, Islamabad (Tel: 9204951), where contemporary Pakistani art is on permanent display besides revolving exhibitions and paintings available for sale. The other is Children Art Palace # 77 School Road, F-7/4 Islamabad (Tel: 221286), where Children’s art is on display and regular art classes are held for children.

PAKISTAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The Museum of National History is located opposite the Women’s College on College Road in F-7.2 Commercial Area. The Museum depicts early human history, geology and wild life of Pakistan. The exhibits are particular interest to students and children. It is open to public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except Sunday. Entry is free.

ISLAMABAD MUSEUM
Islamabad museum presents a long historic sequence of the land where Pakistan is situated today. Pakistan has been a seat of the worlds leading civilizations from the time immemorial. There is plenty of evidence to support this argument now on display in Islamabad Museum. Fox example, 20 million years old fossil remains, 2 million years old man-made stone tools, 7000 years old early human settlements which lead to the world famous Indus Civilization, Gandhara Grave Culture and Gandhara art, early Islamic settlement and Mughal period, their art and craft.

The Museum is located at House 41, Street No. 3, E-7, Islamabad. It is open for visitors, Thursday to Tuesday from 09:30 to 16:30 hrs without break. Wednesday is weekly off and there is a prayer break on every Friday from 12:30 to 14:00 hrs.

SHAH FAISAL MOSQUE
This beautiful mosque was designed by a renowned Turkish Architect, Vedat dalokay and named after late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. It is spread over 1,89,705-sq. Meters with 88 meters high minarets and 40 meters high main prayer hall. The main prayer hall can accommodate 10,000 persons while the covered porticoes and verandahs can take over 24,000 worshipers. The main courtyard has space for 40,000 people.

SHRINES

SHRINE OF SHAH ABDUL LATIF (BARI IMAM)
Nurpur Shahan, a village situated at the foot of Margalla Hills, near Qaid-e-Azam University, is famous for the mirror-studded shrine of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, popularly known as Bari Imam. The shrine was originally built on the order of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The death anniversary (Urs) of Bari Imam is observed in the first week of May beginning Monday through Thursday with lot of festivities representing the Potohar culture and attracts people from all over the country.

Shrine of Syed Meher Ali Shah (Golra Sharif)
The shrine of Syed Meher Ali Shah of Golra Sharif is located 18 km from Rawalpindi, in sector E-11 of Islamabad. He was descendant of a Syed family and had links with Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani of Baghdad. He was born in 1859, preached and spread the message of Islam during the turbulent times in South Asia. He also wrote beautiful prose and poetry in Persian, Arabic and Punjabi languages, mostly in praise of God and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He died on May 11, 1937. His mausoleum was recently reconstructed. Devotees assemble here on the occasion of annual Urs.