At a Glance
Rawalpindi lines the Pothohar Plateau immediately south of Islamabad, functioning as both a commuter hub and a self-sustaining economic center. The city's cantonment roots date to the British Raj, while Raj-era bungalows now share space with high-rise apartments and metrobus corridors.
Economy and Services
Defense logistics, healthcare, and education institutions anchor Rawalpindi's economy. Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market supply retail goods across northern Pakistan, while technology parks in Chaklala and Bahria Town cater to software houses, fintech firms, and back-office operations.
- Army Medical University and numerous private hospitals make the city a medical referral hub.
- The metrobus system links Rawalpindi's Saddar to Islamabad's Blue Area in under 40 minutes.
- Real estate developments along the Islamabad Expressway are reshaping the suburban skyline.
Culture and Daily Life
Food streets in Saddar offer Kashmiri tea, chapli kebabs, and patisseries that locals swear by. Murree Road's theaters host music and stage plays, while heritage walks trace the old Sikh gurdwara sites and Haveli Sujan Singh.
Visiting Guide
Use Rawalpindi as a launch pad for mountain getaways: Margalla trails, Patriata, and Murree are within a couple of hours. Aim for weekdays to navigate traffic more easily, and leverage the metrobus for cross-city meetings.
Visual Glimpses
Explore Rawalpindi's cantonment heritage, bazaars, and hill gateways.
