When Did Islamabad Become the Capital of Pakistan? Dates, History and Facts
Ask most people when Islamabad became the capital of Pakistan and you will hear “the 1960s” — close, but the exact date matters for exams, essays and pub quizzes. Islamabad was declared the national capital on 14 August 1967, exactly twenty years after independence. Here is the verified chronology: when the city was conceived, when construction began, why Rawalpindi filled the gap, and how the final handover happened.
Quick answer: Islamabad became the capital of Pakistan on 14 August 1967. The idea was conceived by President Ayub Khan in the late 1950s, construction began around 1960 to the master plan of Greek planner Constantinos Doxiadis, and the government operated from Rawalpindi as interim capital (1959–1967) until the new city was ready.
In this guide
The Official Date: 14 August 1967
Islamabad was declared the capital of Pakistan on 14 August 1967 — a deliberately symbolic date, exactly two decades after the country came into being on 14 August 1947. Multiple historical references converge on this date, and it is the answer examiners expect. Note the nuance: government offices had been migrating from Rawalpindi through the mid-1960s, but 14 August 1967 is the formal declaration date.
Who Conceived Islamabad and When
The idea of a new, purpose-built capital was conceived by President Ayub Khan in the late 1950s, shortly after he took power in 1958. His government appointed a Federal Capital Commission to choose the site, and the Potwar Plateau at the foot of the Margalla Hills — near Rawalpindi, geographically central, and defensible — was selected. For the broader context, see our first capital of Pakistan guide.
Construction: The 1960s
Construction began around 1960. The master plan was drawn by Constantinos Doxiadis, the Greek architect-planner famous for his “Dynapolis” concept of a city that could grow in one direction. His design divided Islamabad into numbered sectors (F-6, G-7 and so on), each a self-contained neighbourhood with its own market, school and mosque. Landmark buildings followed through the decade: the Secretariat blocks, the Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidency), and the Faisal Mosque — gifted by Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal — which became the city’s icon.
Why Rawalpindi Bridged the Gap
A new city cannot be built overnight. From 1959 to 1967, Rawalpindi served as the interim capital — Pakistan’s second capital. Ministries worked from the old garrison city while Doxiadis’s sectors rose on the plateau next door. This is why some sources loosely say the capital “moved to Islamabad in the 1960s”: the transition was gradual, with the formal declaration coming in 1967.
After 1967: The Capital Territory
The story did not end in 1967. In 1981, Islamabad was separated from Punjab province to form the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), directly administered by the federal government. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has about 1.1 million residents, with a metropolitan population above 2.3 million — and with Rawalpindi, a combined metro of over 5.7 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly did Islamabad become the capital?
14 August 1967 — exactly twenty years after Pakistan’s independence.
Who built Islamabad?
The city was conceived under President Ayub Khan and designed by Greek planner Constantinos Doxiadis. Construction ran through the 1960s.
What was Pakistan’s capital before Islamabad?
Karachi was the first capital (1947–1959), followed by Rawalpindi as the interim capital (1959–1967). Islamabad is the third and current capital.
Why 14 August?
The date was chosen for its symbolism: the new capital was declared on the twentieth anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.
