What is the Pakistan capital city name? It’s Islamabad — but the name has a history of its own. The facts, the meaning, and the story of how Pakistan’s capital got its name.
Quick answer: The Pakistan capital city name is Islamabad. Adopted when the planned city was built in the 1960s, it combines “Islam” with the Persian suffix “-abad” (city/abode) — the City of Islam. It has been the official capital name since 14 August 1967.
In this guide
The Name: Islamabad
Islamabad (اسلام آباد) is the Pakistan capital city name — official since 14 August 1967, when the planned city formally became the capital. It appears on every map, every embassy plaque and every government letterhead in the country.
What “Islamabad” Means
Islam + -abad: the Persian suffix meaning “city”, “abode” or “settlement” — the same ending as in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Faisalabad. So Islamabad is the “City of Islam” or “Abode of Islam”. The name was a deliberate statement for the capital of the Islamic Republic.
How the Name Was Chosen
When the new capital was planned in 1960, several names were floated — but Islamabad won out as the obvious, resonant choice for a Muslim-majority nation’s capital, echoing the state’s Islamic identity. It was formally adopted with the city’s establishment in 1967. The deeper story: how Islamabad got its name.
Earlier Names for the Capital
Before Islamabad, the capital city names were Karachi (1947–c.1960s) and briefly Rawalpindi as interim capital. Neither was renamed — the capital simply moved to a brand-new city with a brand-new name. Full history: why the capital moved and our Islamabad pillar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pakistan capital city name?
Islamabad — the official capital city name since 14 August 1967.
What does Islamabad mean?
“City of Islam” — from Islam + the Persian suffix -abad (city/abode).
What was Pakistan’s capital called before Islamabad?
Karachi (1947 to the 1960s), with Rawalpindi as interim capital during Islamabad’s construction.
Is Islamabad’s name ever spelled differently?
You’ll see “Isloo” as a nickname and اسلام آباد in Urdu script — but the official English name is always Islamabad.
