Islamabad

Welcome to the City of Islamabad

House of Parliament, one of the destinations in field visit of UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting (first session), 10-12 April 2018.

DETERMINING its venue in South Asia, UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting 2018 (first session) will be held on 10-12 April 2018 in Islamabad. Attending the regional meeting in Malala Yousafzai’s (youngest Nobel prize laureate) homeland inevitably encourage us to take our expectation to a higher level. What other great things does Islamabad have in store? Get better understanding of the city!

Getting to Know Islamabad Much More With overwhelming media exposure about the city and challenges it faces, one might have certain presumption on the city of Islamabad. Selecting this city as venue for the first session of UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting is not without reason; particularly with theme “Think Globally, Act Locally – SDGs Implementation through Local Governments.”

City of Islamabad was constructed in 1960, established to replace Karachi, the first capital city of the country. Its unique establishment history has made Islamabad achieve milestones other cities in the country have not.

City of Islamabad is the net contributor to the Pakistani economy. Data shows that with the number of population only 0.8 per cent of the country’s total, the city can contribute one per cent to the country’s GDP. Moreover, Islamabad Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1989, is Pakistan’s third largest stock exchange (after Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchange and was merged to form Pakistan Stock Exchange). The city’s achievement also positively impacts its local development. World Bank noted in its Doing Business Report (2010) that Islamabad nestled on the first place regarding the best place to start a business in Pakistan.

In addition to its expansion in ICT, the city has also noted progress in job supplies with the development of international trust to the city’s achievement.

What Not-To-Miss in Islamabad Buddhist Archaeological Site Islamabad is the place where excavations have revealed evidence of prehistoric culture; showing the place was home to human civilisation dated from 3000 BC. According to a survey conducted in 2010, there are around 450 heritage sites in Islamabad. Buddhist Archaeological site is in Northwest of Pakistan’s Capital city of Islamabad, in Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Parliament House Taking 11 years to build, this is absolutely a must-visit destination during a trip to Islamabad.

History noted that the five-storey building was inaugurated on May 28, 1986; using design made by an architect from USA, Edward Durel Stone. To enjoy the site, see more on www.senate.gov.pk.

Gandharan Art Museum Gandhara art is a style of Buddhist visual art which is developed in Pakistan. It is widely known that most Gandhara Buddhist heritage sites are lying in the country. Its popularity is enough to make the region considered as the “Mecca for Buddhist.” The term Gandharan is also popular in the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, as a kingdom with rich history.

Taxila Museum is located on 35 km drive from Islamabad on the Grand Trunk Road to Peshawar, Pakistan.