The capital city of this Asian nation is named after the national religion. Which country, which capital city?

The name of this capital city offers a direct link to its country's identity. The name Islamabad is a compound of "Islam," for the religion, and the Persian suffix "-abad," which means "inhabited place" or "city." Therefore, the name literally translates to "City of Islam," a fitting title for the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where Islam is the state religion.

Interestingly, Islamabad is a relatively modern, purpose-built capital. Its construction began in the 1960s to replace the previous capital, the bustling port city of Karachi. The government sought a more central, secure, and serene location that could be developed as a modern administrative center, separate from the commercial intensity of Karachi. The choice of its name was a deliberate act, meant to anchor the new seat of government firmly in the nation's ideological and religious foundations, symbolizing its identity and future aspirations.