I found that the best way to get your bearings is to work out where the Margalla Hills are (these are the range of hills that run along the Northern outskirts of Islamabad.) Since the area is pretty flat, they work well.
I then remembered where I was by "walking away from the hills', walking with the hills on my right etc etc........
Also, the Shah Faisal mosque is a pretty good landmark - able to be seen from most places.










