Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi, often called Pindi, is the fourth-most populous city in Pakistan. It is twinned with Islamabad, the capital city, and is a major commercial and industrial center in northern Punjab. The city is also the third-largest in Punjab and one of the largest Punjabi-speaking cities in the world.

Located along the Soan River, Rawalpindi has a rich history dating back to 1493. It grew from a small town into an important hub for trade and the military, especially during the time of the Sikh Empire and British rule. Today, it remains a key military center, housing important headquarters for the Pakistan Army and Air Force.

Rawalpindi has been the setting for many important events in Pakistan's history. It has also become closely linked with Islamabad, which was built nearby in the 1960s. The city attracts visitors for its historic buildings and its position as a gateway to popular tourist spots like Rohtas Fort and Taxila.

Etymology

Rawalpindi used to be called Fatehpur Baori. During the Mongol invasions in the 1300s, the town was mostly destroyed. Later, a leader named Jhanda Khan rebuilt the town in 1493 and renamed it Rawalpindi. The name means "Village of Rawal" in Punjabi. Some stories say that a group of ascetics named Rawal helped start the town.

History

Origins

The area around Rawalpindi has had people living there for thousands of years. It is part of an ancient land called Gandhara with many old Buddhist sites. Near Rawalpindi, you can find the remains of 55 places of worship, 28 big buildings for monks, 9 temples, and many old items written in the Kharoshthi script.

To the southeast is the old Mankiala stupa, built in the second century. The nearby town of Taxila was an important place for learning in the past.

Medieval

The first known settlement in Rawalpindi was destroyed by a ruler named Mahmud of Ghazni. Later, a leader named Gakhar chief Kai Gohar rebuilt the town in the early 1100s. The town was destroyed again by invaders and stayed empty until 1493 when it was rebuilt and named Rawal.

Mughal period

During the time of the Mughal Empire, Rawalpindi was ruled by the Gakhar family, who supported the Mughals. They built strong walls around a travel rest stop called the Serai Rawat. The Attock Fort was built in 1581. In 1585, the great Mughal leader Akbar visited Rawalpindi for 13 years while expanding his empire.

Sikh rule

The 16th century Rawat Fort, a fortified caravanserai.

When Mughal rule ended, the Sikhs took over Rawalpindi in the 1760s. The city grew, though it was still small, with only about 300 families in 1770. Later, a Sikh leader allowed a governor to stay in Rawalpindi. In 1849, the city was taken over by the British.

British period

After the British took control, they built a military base in Rawalpindi in 1851. The city got its first telegraph office in the 1850s and a church in 1854. By 1855, over 15,000 people lived there. The city grew with new buildings and became a busy trade center. Railways arrived in the 1880s, and the city became an important military location.

Rawalpindi's Fatima Jinnah Women University is housed in a Victorian mansion.

Partition

When Pakistan became independent in 1947, many people moved between India and Pakistan. This time was very difficult for many communities.

Modern

After Pakistan’s independence, Rawalpindi became very important for the army. The city grew quickly, especially after nearby Islamabad was built as the new capital in 1961. Today, Rawalpindi is closely connected to Islamabad and many people live there and work in the capital. In 2015, a new fast bus service started running between the two cities.

Geography

Climate

Main article: Climate of Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and wet, and winters are cooler and drier. The city gets many thunderstorms each year, more than any other plain city in the country. Strong winds sometimes happen in summer and can cause damage. The weather changes a lot because Rawalpindi is near the foothills of the Himalayas.

Rawalpindi gets about 1,254.8 mm of rain each year, mostly in summer. Winter also brings some rain. Summer temperatures can reach up to 47.7 °C, and winter temperatures can drop to -3.9 °C.

Cityscape

Rawalpindi’s historic center has neighborhoods called Mohallahs. Each neighborhood has its own market and mosque. The streets are narrow, which makes it feel private and safe for residents. Major intersections are called chowks.

Unlike older cities such as Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar, Rawalpindi is a newer city. South of the historic center is the Rawalpindi Cantonment. This area has wide streets, trees, and historic buildings from British colonial times. The Saddar Bazaar, also built by the British, was a shopping area for Europeans. Beyond the cantonment are large housing areas. People live there and travel to Islamabad for work.

Fawara Chowk in 1940.
Fawara Chowk in 2021.
College Road is famous for electronic markets.
Haveli sujan Singh Rawalpindi
Poonch House Rawalpindi
Faizabad Interchange
Lal Haveli
Bahria Town is a private housing scheme in Rawalpindi

Demographics

Rawalpindi is a big city where people speak many different languages. Most people, about 54%, speak Punjabi as their first language. Many others speak Urdu (25%), Pashto (13%), and smaller groups speak Hindko, Kashmiri, Seraiki, Sindhi, and other languages.

Most people in Rawalpindi, around 97%, are Muslim. There are also small groups of Christians and people from other religions. Before a big change in history called the Partition of India, Rawalpindi had many Hindu and Sikh people, but today only a few families from these groups remain. Some old temples and buildings still stand as reminders of the past.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1855	15,913	—
1868	28,586	+79.6%
1881	52,975	+85.3%
1891	72,023	+36.0%
1901	87,688	+21.7%
1911	86,483	−1.4%
1921	101,142	+17.0%
1931	119,284	+17.9%
1941	185,000	+55.1%
1951	237,000	+28.1%
1961	340,000	+43.5%
1972	615,000	+80.9%
1981	795,000	+29.3%
1998	1,409,768	+77.3%
2017	2,098,231	+48.8%
2023	3,357,612	+60.0%
Source:

Religious groups in Rawalpindi City (1881−2023)
Religious group	1881		1891^: 68		1901^: 44		1911^: 20		1921^: 23		1931^: 26		1941^: 32		2017		2023
Religious group	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	23,664	44.67%	32,787	44.43%	40,807	46.54%	40,678	47.04%	47,653	47.11%	55,637	46.64%	81,038	43.79%	2,029,304	96.73%	3,207,449	97.09%
Hinduism	23,419	44.21%	29,264	39.66%	33,227	37.89%	29,106	33.66%	35,279	34.88%	40,161	33.67%	62,394	33.72%	628	0.03%	843	0.03%
Sikhism	1,919	3.62%	4,767	6.46%	6,302	7.19%	8,306	9.6%	9,144	9.04%	15,532	13.02%	32,064	17.33%	—N/a	—N/a	118	0%
Jainism	904	1.71%	848	1.15%	1,008	1.15%	963	1.11%	916	0.91%	1,025	0.86%	1,301	0.7%	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a
Christianity	—N/a	—N/a	6,072	8.23%	6,275	7.16%	7,846	9.07%	8,111	8.02%	6,850	5.74%	3,668	1.98%	65,729	3.13%	92,906	2.81%
Zoroastrianism	—N/a	—N/a	51	0.07%	65	0.07%	58	0.07%	39	0.04%	65	0.05%	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	21	0%
Judaism	—N/a	—N/a	2	0%	—N/a	—N/a	16	0.02%	0	0%	5	0%	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a
Buddhism	—N/a	—N/a	0	0%	0	0%	10	0.01%	0	0%	9	0.01%	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a
Ahmadiyya	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	1,848	0.09%	1,651	0.05%
Others	3,069	5.79%	4	0.01%	1	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	4,587	2.48%	315	0.02%	733	0.02%
Total population	52,975	100%	73,795	100%	87,688	100%	86,483	100%	101,142	100%	119,284	100%	185,042	100%	2,097,824	100%	3,303,721	100%

Transportation

Public transportation

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus is a bus system that connects Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It opened in 2015 and helps people travel quickly between the two cities. A second part of the system opened in 2022, linking more areas including the airport.

The Rawalpindi Green Electric Bus Service started in November 2025. It offers free rides for women, students, and older people on several main routes across the city.

Road

Rawalpindi lies on the historic Grand Trunk Road, which connects Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore. The road is close to the M-1 Motorway to Peshawar, and the M-2 Motorway to Lahore. The Grand Trunk Road also leads toward the border with Afghanistan, and the Karakoram Highway connects to western China.

The Islamabad Expressway links Rawalpindi to Rawal Lake and central Islamabad. IJP Road separates the northern edge of Rawalpindi from Islamabad.

Motorways

Rawalpindi connects to Peshawar by the M-1 Motorway. The M-2 Motorway gives fast travel to Lahore. The M-3 Motorway branches from the M-2 and connects to Faisalabad, linking to the M-4 Motorway toward Multan and Sukkur. New motorways are being built to connect Sukkur and Karachi. The Hazara Motorway is also under construction to provide faster travel to Mansehra.

Rail

Rawalpindi railway station is a stop on Pakistan’s Main Line-1 railway, which runs from Karachi to Peshawar. Many trains stop here, including the Awam Express and Khyber Mail.

Plans are in place to upgrade the railway line between Karachi and Peshawar, allowing trains to travel up to 160 kilometres per hour.

Air

Rawalpindi’s airport is Islamabad International Airport, located 21 km west of the city. It offers flights across Pakistan and to many places around the world.

Development Project

The Rawalpindi Ring Road is a big highway project to help traffic around the city. It will have many bridges and underpasses to make travel easier.

The Kutchery Chowk Remodelling Project is fixing heavy traffic by building special roads without stop lights. This will help cars and buses move more smoothly.

The Dadocha Dam project is building a new dam to bring more water to the city. It will also create a nice park and a place for birds.

Administrative divisions

Rawalpindi is one of five smaller parts called tehsils in Rawalpindi District. It is divided into different areas: a large city area, two military towns, and several smaller local groups called union councils. The large city area has 78 of these local groups.

The city also has many private housing areas that grew quickly. Some of these are Gulraiz Housing Society, Korang Town, Agochs Town, Ghori Town, Pakistan Town, Judicial Town, Bahria Town, Kashmir Housing Society, Danial Town, Al-Haram City, Education City, Gul Afshan Colony, and Allama Iqbal Colony.

Sr.	Component	Area (km²)	Population (2023)
1	Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation	Not available	2,284,014
2	Rawalpindi Cantonment	41.16	740,483
3	Chaklala Cantonment	34.01	333,115
4	Rural union councils	Not available	386,978

Parks

Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has a playland, a lake for boating, an aquarium, and a garden-restaurant.

Rawalpindi Public Park is on Murree Road near Shamsabad. It opened in 1991 and has a playland for children, grassy lawns, fountains, and flower beds.

In 2008, Jinnah Park opened in the heart of Rawalpindi and has become a popular spot. It has a modern cinema, a large supermarket, a McDonald's restaurant, gaming lounges, Motion Rides, and other fun activities. The wide lawns are great for picnics.

Rawalpindi is close to Ayub National Park. The park covers about 2,300 acres and has a play area, a lake for boating, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant, and an open-air theater. It also has a place called "The Jungle Kingdom", which is very popular with kids.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi is a busy city with many shops and factories. It helps bring money and jobs to the area, making it important for trade and work. Many people live there and find ways to earn a living in its businesses.

Education

Main article: List of educational institutions in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi has many schools and colleges. There are over 2,000 government schools, including primary, middle, high schools, and colleges. Most children in Rawalpindi go to school, especially in the city areas. Many students can read English sentences by the time they finish Class 5.

Some well-known schools and universities in Rawalpindi include the College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, Fatima Jinnah Women University, and Foundation University RWP Campus, which focuses on IT and Biotech studies.

Media

Rawalpindi is close to the capital and has many newspapers and media services. Over a dozen newspaper companies are based in the city, including Daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Jang, Daily Asas, The Daily Sada-e-Haq, Daily Express, Daily Din, Daily Aajkal Rawalpindi, Daily Islam, and Daily Pakistan in Urdu, as well as Dawn, Express Tribune, Daily Times, The News International, and The Nation in English.

The city has many cable TV service providers such as Nayatel, PTCL, SA Cable Network, and DWN. The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation has a centre in Rawalpindi.

Recreation

Rawalpindi has many fun places to visit. You can find big shopping places like Giga Mall, and enjoy parks such as Ayub Park and Playland. In 2019, a new amusement park called JoyLand opened, offering safe and exciting rides for everyone.

In mid-2012, a 3D cinema called The Arena began showing movies in Bahria Town Phase-4 in Rawalpindi.

The Rawalpindi Golf Course, finished in 1926, is one of the oldest and largest golf courses in Pakistan. It has 27 holes and hosts important golf tournaments. From there, you can see beautiful views of the Faisal Mosque and the nearby cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.