Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and is the tenth largest city in Pakistan with an estimated population of 1.74 million in 2009. The Rawalpindi/Islamabad Metropolitan Area is the third largest in Pakistan, with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants.

Islamabad is located in the Pothohar Plateau in the north of the country, within the Islamabad Capital Territory. The region has historically been a part of the crossroads of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Margalla pass being a gateway to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The city was built during the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital.

Islamabad is the greenest city of pakistan and the most planned one. According to a survey, Islamabad is considered the cleanest city in Pakistan. The city is well-organized, being divided into different sectors and zones. Islamabad was ranked as a Gamma world city in 2008. The city is home to Faisal Mosque, the largest mosque in South Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world. Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan. Islamabad is home to the top ranked university in Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University, and the top two engineering universities in the country, the Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences and National University of Sciences and Technology. Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad is the world's largest university by enrollment.