| Location, Area & Locality |
Spreading over an area of more than 400 acres, the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute is located in the midst of the unspoilt and nature-rich countryside of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Lying at the foot of the beautiful lake of Tarbela Dam, the largest earth-filled dam of the world, it is set against the picturesque backdrop of rolling hills, vast grassy fields and a clear blue sky with the mighty Indus meandering across a lush green belt. Bordering on its campus is the traditional village of Topi, the birth place of Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan, who was the pioneer of modern education in the Frontier Province. Close by is the ancient village of Hund, where Alexander the Great crossed the Indus. The surrounding area, once known as the land of Gandhara, is dotted profusely with archaeological sites of great cultural significance. These include the well-known sites of the ancient seats of learning, the Taxila University of the Gandhara period and the Buddhist monastery at Takht Bai. To these seats of learning flocked students and scholars from all over South Asia, Central Asia and China. It is in this region that we find the sayings of Asoka carved on rocks at Shabaz Garhi, the Naighe Gatte megaliths (stone columns) on the Swabi-Mardan road, and numerous stupas and chambers which fire the imagination of the visitors to the area with the mysteries and glories of its past. The excavated sites around Taxila, at Takht Bai, Dir and in Swat Valley transport them back to the civilization that flourished here almost 2500 years back. Exquisite relics of that era are the treasured possessions of the museums at Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Dir, Swat and Taxila.
In addition to its great historical character, the location of the Institute offers many advantages. The northern areas of Pakistan which attract expeditions from all over the world are easily accessible from here. Perhaps the most important advantage is the invaluable opportunities it offers for establishing interaction between industry and university.
Some of the most important national industries are located quite close to the Institute. These include the Telephone Industries of Pakistan, Heavy Mechanical Complex, the Heavy Foundry and Forge Engineering, the Kamra Aeronautical Complex, the Heavy Rebuild Factory and the Locomotive Complex. Their proximity offers invaluable opportunities for practical training of the students.
Though away from the congestion, noise and pollution of big cities, the Institute has easy access to important urban centers. It is less than two hours’ drive from Islamabad and Peshawar. Both cities are connected with the rest of the country through frequent air, train and bus services. Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, has an international airport which provides ready access to the outside world.
