26 November

On 26 November 1947 the Government of West Punjab completed its first major survey of Evacuee Property, documenting thousands of abandoned agricultural lands urban buildings and industrial units left behind during the mass migration of Partition. The survey established the first verified list of transferable assets that could be allocated to incoming Muslim refugees from East Punjab and northern India.

Municipal teams recorded street widths drainage paths property boundaries and ownership claims across almost fifteen thousand villages and towns. These verified lists became the basis for temporary and later permanent allotments to displaced families. The effort formed a critical administrative link between the chaos of migration and the creation of a new urban and rural ownership structure in Pakistan.

On this date, the Capital Development Authority formally approved the first sector boundary map for Pakistan’s newly designated federal capital, Islamabad. The authorisation marked one of the earliest and most consequential administrative steps taken by the newly formed authority, which had been established in June 1960 under the direction of President Muhammad Ayub Khan.

Prepared within the framework of the master plan developed by Doxiadis Associates of Athens, the boundary map confirmed the geometric layout of the F, G, H and I series sectors, forming the structural grid that would shape the capital’s long-term growth. The CDA chairman at the time, Major General Yahya Khan, described the approval as the foundational “planning DNA” of the new city.

Structure and Intent of the Sector Plan

Under the Doxiadis plan, Islamabad was conceived as a modern, orderly and environmentally integrated capital. The adopted boundary system arranged the city on a two by two kilometre grid, with each sector divided into four sub-sectors planned as self-contained communities. Residential, commercial, educational and recreational functions were placed within walkable distances, framed by green belts intended to protect natural landscapes.

F Series: Predominantly residential in nature, the F sectors were designed to house middle and lower-middle income groups, including federal employees. Early development was prioritised in F-6 and F-7, with planned parks, pedestrian routes and green buffers.

G Series: The G sectors were positioned as central residential and community zones. G-6, the first to be developed, was designed to be completed by the end of 1960, with markets, schools, mosques and health facilities integrated into its layout.

I Series: The I sectors served the industrial and commercial functions of the new city. Areas from I-8 to I-17 were assigned for light industry, transport hubs and office clusters, forming the economic base of Islamabad.

H Series: Reserved for higher-income residences and institutional development, the H sectors were planned to accommodate universities, hospitals and cultural facilities, establishing Islamabad as an administrative and academic centre.

Planning Philosophy and Long Term Significance

The approval reflected the Doxiadis concept of a “Dynapolis”, a city designed to expand gradually from the north-east to the south-west, preserving existing villages while creating space for controlled urban growth. Road hierarchies were calibrated at 100-foot dual carriageways, 80-foot single lanes and dedicated pedestrian pathways, ensuring orderly circulation and low environmental impact.

President Ayub Khan, while reviewing the approved boundaries, remarked that Islamabad was intended not only as the administrative heart of Pakistan but also as “a model Asian city”, combining human needs, natural setting and modern technology.

The 26 November approval laid the administrative and spatial foundations for all future development. It enabled the CDA to begin land acquisition, allocate resources and initiate phased construction. Work on F-6 and G-6 was scheduled for commencement in early 1961, with core infrastructure projected for completion by 1963.

Historical Context

The decision to relocate the capital from Karachi to a new site near Rawalpindi was taken in 1959 following a national review of administrative needs, geography and security. Doxiadis Associates submitted the first draft of the master plan in May 1960, and the boundary approval of November 1960 represented the earliest formal adoption of that plan.

Legacy

This boundary authorisation became the cornerstone of Islamabad’s urban identity. The grid it introduced remains intact to this day, guiding municipal planning, land regulation and infrastructure development. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential planning decisions in Pakistan’s urban history.