Abbottabad is the principal city of Abbottabad District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located 150 km north of Islamabad and 205 km from Peshawar, at an altitude of 4120 feet (1250 m) above sea level. The city is located in the Orash Valley, and is known for its pleasant weather, educational institutes of high standards and military establishments. It remains a hub for tourism in the summer.

Abbottabad was a city of British India and the headquarters of Hazara Division (then a district). It was named after Major James Abbott. Major Abbott settled this district in 1853 after the annexation of the Punjab and he became its first Deputy Commissioner. Before leaving the town, Major Abbott wrote a poem titled "Abbottabad" in which he wrote of his fondness for the town and his sadness at having to leave. During British rule Abbottabad became an important military cantonment and sanatorium, being the headquarters of a brigade in the second division of the northern army corps. The garrison consisted of four battalions of native infantry (Gurkhas) and four native mountain batteries. In 1901 the population of the town and cantonment was 7764. In 1902 income averaged around Rs. 14,900 and the expenditure around Rs. 14,000. In 1903 the income averaged Rs. 22,300, chiefly derived from octroi, while expenditure was around Rs. 18,100. The receipts and expenditure of cantonment funds during the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 7,300. The chief public institutions were the Albert Victor unaided Anglo-Vernacular High School, a municipal Anglo-Vernacular High School and a Government dispensary. . In 1911 the population had risen to 11,506 and the town also contained four battalions of Gurkhas.

Education

With its pleasant weather and scenic landscape, Abbottabad attracts people from all over Pakistan, some for tourism but many for its educational institutions. Abbottabad (sometimes called "The City of Schools") is home to a number of schools, colleges and training institutes. These educational institutions help to promote a high standard of education throughout the entire country.

Military Training Institutes

Military Training Institutes like the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul, (PMA) and various the Regimental Training centres of the Pakistan Army are also located in Abbottabad.

Abbottabad Educational Board

Medical And Engineering Institutes

Abbottabad has four Medical Colleges and two Engineering universities. Medical colleges include:

• Ayub Medical College
• Women Medical College
• Frontier Medical College
• Abbottabad International Medical College.

Engineering universities are:

• COMSATS
• Campus of UET Peshawar(University of Engineering and Technology).
• Hazara University Mansehra Abbottabad campus

Schools and Colleges

Abbottabad is known as "The City of Schools" in Pakistan. The notable educational institutes in Abbottabad are:

• The Government Postgraduate College offers higher education of Bachelors and Masters level in Literature, Natural Sciences and Exact Sciences. The college attracts students from all over the NWFP.

• A few Technical Institutions like Government Polytechnical Institute offer courses for skill-based technical & industrial education e.g. Diploma in Associate Engineering.

• Quite a few Computer Institutes are also functioning in and around Abbottabad. These institutes are generally affiliated with Board of Technical Education, Peshawar.

• Many private and government school and colleges are located in Abbottabad city which are renowned for their high standard of education. Among these are:

• Abbottabad Public School

• Pakistan Grammar School

• Iqra Academy

• Concept School of Learning

• Iqra Public School

• F.G. School for Boys/Girls

• Army Public School

• Abbottabad Jamia Public School

• Al-Imtiaz Academy

• Army Burn Hall College

• Pine Hills Public School and College

• Pakistan International Public School and College.

• Federal Govt Boys/Girls Public High School Pine View Road

• Beacon House School System

• Banat Taleem Ul Quran High School & College

• Gateway International Public School& College.

• Modernage Public School & College.

Transport

Abbottabad's main public transport consist of modified Suzukis, which can accommodate anywhere from 8 to 13 people at one time. Taxis are also available as well as wagons which connect Abbottabad to the surrounding cities and towns ( Nathiagali,Sherwan, Haripur, Mansehra etc.) in the region. Abbottabad is also served by Daewoo Express, a national bus service which connects over 50 cities in Pakistan.

Tourism

The city has attracted tourists since the colonial era, according to the Imperial Gazetteer of India (compiled about a hundred years ago), "the town is picturesquely situated at the southern corner of the Rash (Orash) plain, 4,120 feet (1,260 m) above the sea". Like much of the mountainous Northern Areas of Pakistan, tourism is one of the important sources of economic activity in Abbottabad, in summer when temperatures in the plains of Pakistan rise to well above 45 degrees Celsius, large number of tourists travel north to Abbottabad to shelter from the blistering heat. The Karakoram Highway, which traces one of the paths of the ancient Silk Road, starts from Havelian 15 km south of the Abbottabad town, and passes through the city. The Karakorum Highway is an attraction for the adventure tourists. Abbottabad is the last big town, the first mild-weather tourist city in Northern Pakistan for the tourists coming from the plains in the south.

The Karakoram, Himalayas and the Hindu Kush ranges can be approached from Abbottabad and it continues to be a transit city for tourists, serving as a base for visiting numerous nearby places, such as Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Indus Kohistan, of the Karakoram Range.

Hospitals & Medical Care Units

• Ayub Medical Complex one of the largest hospital of Asia
• Shaheena Jameel Trust Hospital
• District Headquarters Abbottabad
• Valley View Hospital
• EEG Centre
• Tiens Health Care
• Al-Ishaq Hospital
• Al-Syed Hospital