Pakistan Map in Colour: Provinces, Capitals & Regions Explained
Every colour-coded region of Pakistan’s political map decoded — the four provinces, the autonomous territories, the federal capital — with the official 2020 map and free downloads.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Provinces
Autonomous territories
Sq km total area
Provincial capitals*
*Including Muzaffarabad (AJK) and Gilgit (GB) alongside the four provincial capitals — see the regions table below.
Inside this guide
In This Guide
The regions
Every Region, Colour by Colour
On a standard colour political map of Pakistan, each administrative unit gets its own shade. Here is what each colour means.
| Region | Status | Capital | Map notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Province | Lahore | Largest by population (over 110 million); the eastern block on the map |
| Sindh | Province | Karachi | South-eastern block reaching the Arabian Sea; Karachi is the largest city |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Province | Peshawar | North-western block bordering Afghanistan; includes the merged tribal districts since 2018 |
| Balochistan | Province | Quetta | Largest by area (about 44% of Pakistan); the big western block |
| Azad Jammu and Kashmir | Autonomous territory | Muzaffarabad | Shown in the north-east on the official 2020 map |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | Autonomous territory | Gilgit | The northern high-mountain block bordering China |
| Islamabad Capital Territory | Federal territory | Islamabad | The small enclave around the federal capital in the north |
Borders
Neighbours & Borders
Pakistan sits at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Its land borders run:
- East: India — the longest and most sensitive frontier, including the Line of Control in Kashmir.
- West: Afghanistan (the Durand Line) and Iran.
- North: China, via the Karakoram through Gilgit-Baltistan.
- South: the Arabian Sea, with the port cities of Karachi and Gwadar.
Because maps of this region are politically sensitive, always check which map a source is using — Pakistani, Indian and international atlases draw the Kashmir boundary differently. The official Pakistani position is the 2020 political map described below.
Official map
The 2020 Official Political Map
In August 2020, Pakistan released a new official political map — the first in decades — showing the country’s full claimed territory. Key features of the official map:
- All of Jammu and Kashmir shown as Pakistani territory, including the explicit labelling of the region.
- Siachen marked as part of Pakistan.
- Sir Creek shown in line with Pakistan’s long-standing claim.
- Junagadh and Manavadar in Gujarat marked, reviving a 1947 accession claim.
- The former FATA shown as merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Line of Control marked as a red dotted line labelled “LoC”.
The map was approved by the federal cabinet and is the version used in Pakistani textbooks and government publications. When you download a “Pakistan map” from international sources, compare it against this standard.
Downloads
Download & Print the Map
Colour-coded provinces map
Each province and territory in its own colour, with capitals labelled — ideal for study and presentations.
Map downloads & print guide
Free, openly licensed map files (including the public-domain official 2020 map) in formats for printing, slides and classrooms.
Licensing note: the official 2020 political map file hosted on Wikimedia Commons is released under CC0 (public domain) — you may copy, print and reuse it freely, including commercially, with no permission needed. Other map files carry Creative Commons licences; check the licence line on the file page before republishing.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many provinces are there in Pakistan?
What is the capital of Pakistan?
Which countries border Pakistan?
Where can I download a free Pakistan map?
Why do different maps of Pakistan look different?
Get the Colour-Coded Map
Provinces in distinct colours, capitals labelled, free to download and print.
Editorial note: Boundaries on the subcontinent are disputed and maps vary by publisher. This guide follows Pakistan’s official August 2020 political map; international atlases may differ.