Rawalpindi district is in the north of the Punjab province. The highest elevation is 9,210 ft. close to Dunga Gali and in the south it is as low as 1,100 feet. It lies on the Potwar Plateau 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Islamabad, the national capital. The district has an area of 5,286 sq. km. (2,041 sq. mi). Originally, its area was 6,192 km2 (2,391 sq. mi) until the 1960s when Islamabad Capital Territory was carved out of the district, giving away an area of 906 sq. km. (350 sq mi). It is situated on the southern slopes of the north-western extremities of the Himalayas, including large mountain tracts with rich valleys traversed by mountain and rivers. The chief rivers are the Indus and the Jhelum, it is noted for its milder climate and abundant rainfall due to its proximity to the foothills.
