Some pictures of modern Pakistani cities
Pakistan, a nation of over 182 million people, is home to several global cities, such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. These cities are clearly the country’s most attractive and exciting, not to mention great places to buy or rent real estate.
But what about those little-known corners of Pakistan, which are nonetheless just as alluring and vibrant as their major urban counterparts? Today, we are going to delve into the secrets awaiting Pakistan’s visitors, who only need to keep their eyes open. Let us show you some the modern places accordingly to the provinces.
Lahore : Lahore is the capital city of Punjab province and the second largest city in Pakistan. Lahore lies on the banks of the river Ravi at an altitude of about 215 m above sea level, a few kilometers from the border with India. It is a historical city and is considered to be the cultural hub of Pakistan. Lahore has beautiful mosques, mausoleums, parks and various shopping spots. Some of the places of interest include Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens, Minar e Pakistan (commemorating Pakistan Resolution 23 March 1940) Pakistan Resolution, Allama Iqbal tomb, Wagah Border(Pak-India Border), Anarkali Bazaar(Market) and Food Street. One can witness true Mughal architecture in the city by vising different areas.
Lahore is well known for its culinary delights. People living here are extremely fond of food and that is the reason it has the highest number of places for food with the tastiest dishes of any city. In recent years, Lahore has been upgraded quite a bit in its infrastructure where special attention has been given to the road network, greenery and cleanliness in the city. A Metro Bus was introduced in 2013 with a 27 km long track which connects major areas of the city. Another Orange Line Train project in under construction. it will connect the city by an elevated train line. No matter what, the highlight of this city are its food and its openhearted people. A saying goes in Pakistan, “One who has not seen Lahore is like he was never born”.
Islamabad, the Capital Of Pakistan : Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, located in the Potohar plateau below the Margalla Hills. It was built during the 1960s when the Greek architect Constantinos A.Doxiadis served as the lead architect of the project. The city’s master plan divides it into 8 zones including administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors, commercial areas, and rural and green areas. It is located in the federal district and does not form part of any province. Islamabad is the most well planned and modern city of Pakistan and has the best infrastructure in the country.
Highlights of this city include Faisal Mosque, Daman e Koh (Hill station in Margalla Hills), Saudi Pak Tower, Pakistan Monument (Pakistan Monument), Pir Sohawa( Hill station few kilometers ahead of Daman e Koh), Centaurus shopping mall and the diplomatic enclave. The city is also known for its parks and forests including Fatima Jinnah Park and Margalla Hills National Park. It is monitored by 2000 surveillance cameras under the Safe city Project which makes it a very secure and peaceful city.
People residing in Islamabad are mostly natives of other cities having there jobs in the capital. Therefore it is a very diverse community. The city lies along the green belt so lots of plantation is to be seen as one travels along. The Metro Bus connects 26 of the major areas between Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with other public transport. Being the capital, air travel is also very high. Therefore a new International Airport is being constructed in Fateh Jang area, near the city, offering improved infrastructure and services.
Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan : Karachi is the capital city of Sindh province and the largest city in Pakistan according to area and population. It is the 4th most populous city in the world. It is a coastal city located on the banks of the Arabian Sea. Therefore its climate is affected by sea, with high winds blowing most of the time. The city is considered to be the financial capital of the country because trade activity is highest in the area and most companies have their headquarters situated here. The city has a formal economy estimated to be worth $113 billion/year as of 2014. Karachi collects over a third of Pakistan’s tax revenue and generates approximately 20% of Pakistan’s GDP. It was the capital after independence till 1968, when Islamabad became capital.
Famous attractions in the city include Mazare Quaid (Founder of Pakistan, Quaid e Azam’s mausoleum) Quaid e Azam, Clifton beach, various shopping malls, Pakistan National Museum, Pakistan Air Force Museum, Bagh Ibn e Qasim, Bagh e Jinnah(Jinnah Garden), Boat basin park and much more. Most of the film and drama industry of Pakistan is located in Karachi therefore both national and international events take place here all the time. Though, in recent years the city has faced many issues like rise in street crimes and municipality issues by the Government. The situation is improving from the past few months as Police as well as Rangers have taken care of security and several organizations are working with the Government to solve the problems of the huge number of residents living in the city.
Peshawar: Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It lies in the broad valley near the eastern end of Khyber Pass, close to the border with Afghanistan. Peshawar’s history goest back to 539 BC, making it the oldest city in Pakistan. It has been a gateway to most of the explorers and invaders of the past starting from Alexander the Great to the Mauryans, Huns, Muslim explorers Abdullah Shah Durrani, Mahmud Ghaznavi and the Mughals. The Khyber pass which connects Afghanistan and Pakistan, is well known to be the route of most of these invasions. Today, it is a major trade route between Pakistan and other countries in Central Asia. Much of the old city of Peshawar consists of traditional architecture having high walls. Wood is used in many places for construction.
Tourist attractions in the city include the famous Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Bala Hisar Fort, Gurkhatri, Sikh Gurudwara, Wazir Bagh, Shahi Bagh, Peshawar Museum and others.
There are many cultural festivals held in the city specifically highlighting Pakhtun culture and traditions. Music is also important in the area. Local dances and instruments are famous around the world.
Quetta-Capital of Baluchistan : Quetta is the capital city of Balochistan province. The city is known as fruit garden of Pakistan as numerous fruits are produced here due to its location and climate. It lies at an altitude of 1680 m therefore it has a generally cold climate with snowfall in winter making the temperature drop to less than -10 degree Centigrade. However in summers, the weather remains mostly dry and warm. Historically, the area has been under the rule of Mahmud Ghaznavi and Mughal emperor Humayun. It was briefly captured by British during the First Afghan War in 1839. It officially became part of the British Empire in 1876.
People living here value to their traditions and culture highly. They wear traditional dresses like Shalwar kameez with a turban at top. For women, the dress is a long shalwar kameez with embroidery. Traditional Pushto and Balochi music is common here with instruments like rubab, sitar and flute. The famous dance of Pahtuns, Attan and Kathak originates from here and is known all over the world.
Famous attractions in the area include Hanna Lake, Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, Command and Staff college museum, Archaeological museum, fruit parks and a few others. The bazaars(markets) in Quetta are famous for their handicrafts including Afghan rugs, fur coats, embroidered jackets, waistcoats, sandals, and other items. The traditional dishes are Kadi kebab, Lamb Roast and Saji. Overall, if anyone wants to witness the culture of Pakistan in one place Quetta is the city to visit !
