KEY POINTS
- The favoured model, ICT Government (ICTG), proposes a new Islamabad Assembly and elevates the chief commissioner to a provincial-style chief secretary
- Most functions of CDA and federal ministries would fall under this new integrated system, covering all of ICT.
- The reforms aim to address Islamabad’s long-standing democratic vacuum and bureaucratic disarray.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government is set to overhaul Islamabad’s governance structure, aiming to merge key departments under a unified administrative model to manage the capital city.
The proposed reform seeks to replace decades of bureaucratic system with a streamlined system to improve service delivery and strengthen democratic representation in the capital.
Almost all departments – including key public services like health and education are expected to be merged under a single administrative model.
“Yes, almost Delhi-type of government system is on the cards for Islamabad,” a senior official confirmed, signalling a potential end to decades of bureaucratic fragmentation.
Committee weighs two governance models
The Prime Minister has formed a high-level committee under the chair of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to propose governance reforms.
In a statement following the meeting, Minister Iqbal revealed that two governance models are currently being evaluated.
Once finalized, these will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval. “The goal is clear — to streamline governance and bring democratic representation closer to the people,” he said.
ICT government on the cards
According to government sources, the preferred model – tentatively titled the Islamabad Capital Territory Government (ICTG) would elevate the city’s chief commissioner to the rank of chief secretary, mirroring the administrative setup in provinces.
Under this model, a new legislative body, the Islamabad Capital Territory Assembly (ICTA), would be formed.
The proposed assembly will consist of 31 members: 15 directly elected representatives, four women on reserved seats, and 12 nominees from the federal government representing sectors such as education, environment, civil society, and law.
Old framework, new problems
Islamabad has long been governed through a convoluted system involving three separate entities: the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).
Overlapping mandates and unclear jurisdictions have left the city in administrative limbo.
Except for sensitive portfolios like home affairs, policing, and master planning, all other responsibilities of CDA and federal ministries would shift to the new ICTG framework under the proposed model. The governance area would also extend beyond the urban sprawl to cover the entire ICT region.
Despite being the nation’s capital, Islamabad has operated without a full-fledged democratic setup.
The city is still run under Presidential Order No. 18 of 1980, issued during martial law – a governance relic that continues to overshadow efforts at decentralization.
The MCI, Islamabad’s first elected local body, formed after the 2015 local government elections, faced an uphill battle throughout its tenure.
Handcuffed by overlapping jurisdictions and a lack of financial and administrative support, the MCI struggled to make an impact before its term expired in 2021.
ECP’s frustration
Since 2021, Islamabad has remained without a local government. Despite the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducting five delimitations and announcing multiple election schedules, polls have repeatedly been postponed.
In a rare rebuke, the ECP issued a strongly worded statement in May this year, slamming the federal government for failing to enact legislation necessary to hold local elections in the capital.
The continued delay, many argue, reflects a systemic reluctance to cede control to elected representatives.
Islamabad, Pakistan’s purpose-built capital, was conceived in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the nation’s administrative centre.
Nestled against the scenic Margalla Hills, the city was designed by Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis with a grid-based master plan emphasizing order, greenery, and modernity.
Officially becoming the capital in 1967, Islamabad was envisioned as a symbol of progress and political neutrality, strategically placed near Rawalpindi – then the temporary seat of government, and close to the contested region of Kashmir.
Over the decades, it has grown into a hub of governance, diplomacy, and increasingly, urban sprawl, balancing its tranquil design with the pressures of rapid development.
