Which port city was the first capital of Pakistan?

The port city that was Pakistan’s first capital was Karachi. After Pakistan became independent in 1947, Karachi served as the national capital and housed the country’s early federal government, diplomatic missions, and administrative institutions.

Karachi was a logical choice because it was Pakistan’s largest city, a major Arabian Sea port, and the birthplace of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the country’s founder and first governor-general. The city also provided important commercial and transport links during the difficult early years of independence, when millions of refugees were arriving from India.

Pakistan later moved its capital to Rawalpindi in 1958 as an interim arrangement, before establishing Islamabad as the permanent capital. Karachi remains Pakistan’s largest city and its principal financial and commercial center, but it is no longer the national capital. Another possible confusion is Lahore, a major historic city and former capital of Punjab, not Pakistan’s first national capital.