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Rawalpindi ) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Islamabad, the current capital of Pakistan. It is the military headquarters and also served as the nation's capital while Islamabad was being constructed in the 1960s. The city is home to many industries and factories. Islamabad International Airport is closer to Rawalpindi than to Islamabad, and it serves the city along with the capital. Rawalpindi is located in the Punjab province, 275 km (171 miles) to the north-west of Lahore. It is the administrative seat of the Rawalpindi District.

The population of Rawalpindi is approximately 1,400,000.

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Rawalpindi, also known as Pindi, has a long history spread over several millennia. Archaeologists believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau as far back as 3000 years. The material remains found at the site prove the existence of a Buddhist establishment contemporary to Taxila, but less celebrated than its neighbor.

It appears that the ancient city went into oblivion as a result of the Hun devastation. The first Muslim invader, Mahmud of Ghazni (979-1030), gifted the ruined city to a Gakhar Chief, Kai Gohar. The town, however, being on an invasion route, could not prosper and remained deserted until Jhanda Khan, another Gakhar Chief, restored it and named it Rawalpindi after the village Rawal in 1493. Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Gakkhars till Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler, was defeated by the Sikhs in 1765. The Sikhs invited traders from other places to settle here. This brought the city into prominence.

Following the British conquest of the Sikhs and their occupation of Rawalpindi in 1849, the city became a permanent garrison of the British army in 1851. In the 1880s a railway line to Rawalpindi was laid, and train service was inaugurated on January 1, 1886. The need for having a railway link arose after Lord Dalhousie made Rawalpindi the headquarters of the Northern Command and Rawalpindi became the largest British military garrison in British India.

In 1951, Rawalpindi saw the murder of the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, in Liaquat Garden. Today Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the Pakistani Army and Air Force.

The famous Murree Road has been a hot spot for various political and social events. Nala Lai, famous for its floods, runs in the middle of the city, dividing it into city area and Cantonment area. History describes Nala Lai water pure enough to do washing clothes but now it has become polluted with the waste water from all sources including factories and houses.

It is rapidly developing into a large modern city. It has many good hotels, restaurants, clubs, museums, playgrounds. It has a number of parks, of which the largest is Ayub National Park. Rawalpindi is the nearest major city for the holiday resorts and hill stations of the Galiyat area, such as Murree, Nathiagali, and Ayubia. It is also a common starting point for tourists visiting Abbottabad, Swat, Kaghan, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Chitral.

The best way to see Rawalpindi is by wandering through its bazaars, but you should orient yourself before setting out. The city has two main roads: the Grand Trunk Road runs roughly from east to west and is known as The Mall as it passes through the cantonment; Murree Road breaks north from The Mall, crosses the railway and brushes the east end of the old city on its way to Islamabad. the two main bazaar areas are Raja Bazaar in the old city and Saddar Bazaar, which developed as the cantonment bazaar between the old city and the Mall.

The crowded alleys of the old city are home to many attractions, including Hindu and Sikh temples, Muslim shrines, and the headquarters of Pakistani hijrah (transvestite) community, said to be led by an elected queen. Their presence at births and weddings is an accepted tradition in Pakistan, as it is in India.

Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) and has a play-land, lake with boating facility, an aquarium and a garden-restaurant. Rawalpindi Public Park is located on Murree Road near Shamsabad. The Park was opened for public in 1991. It has a playland for children, grassy lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built in 1992 just opposite the Public Park. The stadium is equipped with all modern facilities. Another attraction located near Rawalpindi is the mosque known as Faisal Masjid.

Rawalpindi cricket stadium, built in 1992, has a grass pitch, floodlights, and a capacity of 15,000. The home team is the Rawalpindi Cricket Association.

Rawat Fort is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk (G.T) Road leading to Lahore. Gakhars, a fiercely independent tribe of the Potwar Plateau built the fort, in early 16th century. The grave of a Gakhar Chief, Sultan Sarang Khan is located inside the fort. He died in 1546 AD fighting against the forces of Sher Shah Suri. If one dares to climb the broken steps inside the tomb, one may get a panoramic view of the plateau and the Mankiala Stupa.

Pharwala Fort is about 40 km from Rawalpindi beyond Lehtrar road. It is a Gakhar fort built it in 15th century on the ruins of a 10th century Hindi Shahi Fort. Emperor Babar conquered the fort in 1519 AD. Later, in 1825, Sikhs expelled Gakhars from this fort. Though the fort is in a crumbling state, it is still an attraction for castle lovers. The fort, being situated in prohibited area, is only open for Pakistani visitors.

Rohtas Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 109 km from Rawalpindi. It is located about 6 km south-west of Dina Town. Going from RawalpindiIslamabad, you have to turn right from G.T. Road to a narrow road just before Dina Police Station and then go left until you find the dry bed of Kahan River. The fort is visible from this point. However, you have to cross the river to reach it. During rainy season, you need a four-wheel-drive to cross the river. The fort is one of the most impressive historical monuments in Pakistan. It was built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, between 1540 and 1547 AD. It served as a huge fortified base for military operations against Gakhars by Sher Shah Suri. It was later used by Mughal emperor Akbar and Sikhs. Within the huge terraced rampart walls with robust bastions and twelve gates, is located another fortress, palaces and ancillary buildings (see [1])

was founded in 1977 at Rawalpindi - the headquarter of Pakistan Army, by then President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Today the college ranks among top medical schools of Pakistan. is named in commemoration of the contributions made by "Madar-i Millat" to the cause of women's emancipation. It is housed in a building which was the old presidency and it is through this University that our heritage has been beautifully interlinked with the education of women for next millennium. The building has an architectural splendor. This gift to the nation, its daughters, and their families has been conceived and presented in an outstanding academic as well as architectural environment. As it stands, it is a symbol of the commitment of the nation to women's Education. was formally established and inducted as an Alumni Association of APPNA on 9th July 1998 at the 20th Annual summer meeting of APPNA at Los Angeles, California. It is heartening to know that there are more than 300 RMC Graduates residing in USA Canada. It is only in the last decade or so that RMC graduates have started to come to the USA. Many of us felt the need to form an organization that will not only represent as a prominent group of Pakistani physicians in North America but also provide a social link between our colleagues and their families. RMCAANA was thus formed. It is a totally non political, autonomous and non profit organization. The prime goal of this association is the welfare of RMC graduates in North America. We will also make all efforts to work with other similar organizations of RMC graduates in Pakistan other countries. We have however our own constitution and will be bound only by The bylaws of this constitution. In addition, we want to help in the uplift of medical education in Pakistan in general RMC in particular. We hope to establish a channel through which we can donate books, audio visual aids, computers, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to RMC. We also hope to sponsor top RMC graduates for residency training in USA. Pakistan is predominantly an agricultural country. However, since its independence in 1947, emphasis has been on irrigated agriculture, while the drylandarid agriculture remained neglected. With rapid increase in population the irrigated areas failed to provide food requirements and it became imperative to find out ways to make use of the huge part of culturable land in the rainfed region. In the 1970s, the Government of Pakistan constituted a Barani Commission to review and recommend measures for the development of rainfed agriculture and uplift of the poor masses through education, research, and development of technology, and manpower. Pursuant to the recommendations of the Barani Commission, the Government of Punjab established Barani Agricultural College, Rawalpindi which was later upgraded to the level of the University in 1994. The mandate of the University is to produce high-quality agricultural scientists and to form an organized scientific infrastructure for teaching and research for the development of dryland regions of the country, thus minimizing the income gap between the rich and poor.The National University of Science and Technology, one of the new generations of Pakistani universities, has its headquarters and many of its campuses in Rawalpindi, with other campuses spread around the country, including Islamabad, Karachi and Risalpur. It is basically an engineering and technology institute and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, medical sciences, management sciences, and information technology. The university is expected to move to a new location in Islamabad over the next few years.

There are many ways to get in and around Rawalpindi. The Islamabad International Airport located nearer to Rawalpindi than Islamabad is operated by over 25 airlines national and internationally based. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the national flag carrier has a diverse route system with flights avialable nearly all the time of the day domestically or internationally.

Rawalpindi is also linked Grand Trunk Road (G.T Road) which links Rawalpindi to nearly every major city in Pakistan from Southern Sindh, Punjab and Peshawar. Also, near Rawalpindi is the Lahore-Islamabad motorway which has newly been completed that allows a much faster and easier way of travelling around Pakistan.

Public transport in Rawalpindi ranging from yello taxis, auto-rickshaws, mini-buses and tangas (horse cartridge), which are used for traveling within the city, whereas air-conditioned, non air-conditioned and deluxe types of buses and coaches are regularly avialable to many destinations in Pakistan.

There is also an IslamabadRawalpindi central railway station that allows travel to every major city in Pakistan. Services are operated by Pakistan Railways company that operate throught the day with train coaches that are air-conditioned with different classes to suit your budget and luxury.

14 December 2003: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf escaped an assassination attempt when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded convoy crossed a bridge in Rawalpindi.Rawalpindi was the headquater for the relief operations during the aftermath of October 2005 earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan and parts of India and Afghanistan.