Essentials
- City
- Islamabad, ICT, Pakistan
- Population
- 1.2 Million
- Internet Speed
- 40-100 Mbps on Fiber (Nayatel/StormFiber); 5G testing underway
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 278 PKR; 1 EUR ≈ 302 PKR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Nestlé Pure Life (approx. 90 PKR for 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/D/G sockets; Power back-ups (UPS/Generators) are standard
- SIM Card
- Zong (Best 4G data), Jazz (Widest coverage). 20GB data approx. 1,200 PKR
- Banking for Expats
- Standard Chartered, Habib Bank (HBL). Nayapay/Sadapay for digital payments
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses in F-6/F-7 or high-end apartments in E-11/Gulberg
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially; cards accepted in malls/high-end cafes; cash needed for street markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (The Centaurus Residencia, Silver Oaks)
- Budget Accommodation
- Adventure Inn (F-7), approx. 6,000 PKR per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sector F-6 and F-7 (Central, safe, walkable to Kohsar Market)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sector E-11 or Bahria Town Phase 7 (Modern, quieter, high-speed fiber availability)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive at Plot 14, Mauve Area, G-9/4 (Approx. 25,000 PKR/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Burning Brownie (Beverly Centre, F-6); high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Tech Pakistan Meetups, NIC Islamabad (National Incubation Center) events
- Social Events for Expats
- Islamabad Expat Hash House Harriers; British Council events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bykea (Motorbike), Uber, and Careem (Car)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- EzBike (Electric scooter sharing via app in G and F sectors)
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (Inland city); Rawal Lake for water views
- Top Regional Airline
- AirSial, SereneAir
- Top International Airline
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Qatar Airways, Emirates
- Highway Access
- M-2 Motorway (to Lahore), Grand Trunk (GT) Road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Rawalpindi Railway Station (15km from Islamabad center)
- Public Transport Passes
- Metro Bus Card (200 PKR deposit); single trip 50 PKR
- Regional Travel
- Faisal Movers or Daewoo Express (Luxury bus to Lahore/Peshawar)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Shifa International Hospital (H-8/4); Maroof International (F-10)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Wellness Company (F-7); Yoga with Zainab (Private/Group sessions)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Omnifit (F-6); K7 Fitness & Kickboxing (E-7); Approx. 10,000 PKR/month
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket (Home pickup/delivery via app)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda (Deep coverage across all sectors)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chicken Karahi at Butt Karahi (F-8) or Kabul Restaurant Kebabs (F-7)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Loafology (F-7); various Lentil/Sabzi dishes in local dhabas
- Best Dessert Spots
- Layers Bakeshop (F-10); Chaye Shaye (Gulberg)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Itwar Bazaar (Sunday/Tuesday/Friday Market) in H-9
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz.pk (General), Bagallery (Beauty/Fashion)
- Grocery Delivery
- PandaMart (via Foodpanda), Airlift Express (defunct/replaced local apps)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- No public bars; social life revolves around private house parties and sheesha lounges
- Local Brewery
- Murree Brewery (Restricted sale; available for non-Muslims with permit)
- Wine Bars
- Non-existent; available only in certain high-end hotels for foreigners
- Street Food Stalls
- F-7 Savour Foods (Pulao Kebabs); Melody Food Park (G-6)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Monal (Pir Sohawa) for Pakistani/Continental; Gaia (Safa Gold Mall) for Japanese
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Faisal Mosque (World's former largest mosque); Pakistan Monument
- Museums & Art Venues
- Lok Virsa Heritage Museum (Shakarparian); PNCA (F-5/1)
- Historical Sites
- Saidpur Village (Heritage site/Food hub); Taxila Ruins (30km away)
- Religious Sites
- Faisal Mosque; Golra Sharif Shrine
- Annual Events
- Islamabad Literature Festival; Lok Mela (Cultural Festival in Autumn)
- Cultural Districts
- Saidpur Village (Traditional architecture mixed with dining)
- Theater Venues
- Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Auditorium
- Local Markets
- Super Market (F-6); Jinnah Super Market (F-7)
- Music Scene
- Coke Studio live screenings; occasional underground indie gigs in E-11
- Street Art
- Murals on the walls of I-8 and F-6 underpasses
- Cooking Classes
- Culinarium (Private workshops in F-7)
- Art Galleries
- Gallery 6 (F-11/3); Satrang Art Gallery (Serena Hotel)
- Historic Buildings
- Prime Minister’s Secretariat; National Assembly Building
- Local Heritage
- Truck Art (Vibrant, colorful patterns seen on transport)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Margalla Hills National Park; Khanpur Dam (40km drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Margalla Hills National Park (Hiking Trail 3 and Trail 5)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- F-9 Fatimah Jinnah Park (Massive central green space)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Daman-e-Koh; Pir Sohawa (Top of Margalla Hills)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Rawal Lake Bird Sanctuary (G-12 area)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Highland Country Club (Margalla Hills) designated areas
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- TCS, Leopard Couriers
- Tech Repair Services
- Blue Area (The tech hub for laptop/mobile repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Islamabad Club (Members only); F-9 Park Sports Complex
- Language Classes
- National University of Modern Languages (NUML) for Urdu
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Pakistan (Constitution Avenue)
- Community Centers
- Islamabad Club (Requires high-fee membership)
- Gaming Lounges
- Portal Gaming Lounge (F-11); 300 PKR/hour
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal and non-existent in Pakistan
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 280,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 11,200,000 PKR / $40k)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 180,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 7,200,000 PKR / $26k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 260,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 15,600,000 PKR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 160,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 9,600,000 PKR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 240,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 19,200,000 PKR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 140,000 PKR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 11,200,000 PKR)
- Corporate Tax
- 29% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% for filers; 30% for non-filers
- Tax System
- Residential based; Worldwide income taxed if resident
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for salaried; up to 50% for others
- VAT
- 18% General Sales Tax (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under Income Tax Ordinance 2001
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on annual rental value and plot size
- Property Transaction Tax
- Varies; 3% for filers, 10-15% for non-filers
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None specific; Freelancers enjoy 0.25% export tax on foreign remittances