Govt moves to make Islamabad an autonomous federal unit with elected 27-member assembly

Minute Mirror has exclusively reported that the federal government has prepared a landmark proposal to transform the Islamabad Capital

ISLAMABAD: Minute Mirror has exclusively reported that the federal government has prepared a landmark proposal to transform the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) into an autonomous federal unit with its own elected assembly and local chief executive.

The development marks a major shift in the governance structure of the capital, with the proposed framework aimed at reducing bureaucratic control and transferring greater civic authority to elected representatives. Minute Mirror was the first Pakistani media outlet to report the development, bringing the proposed reform into the national spotlight.

Sources familiar with the matter said Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s special committee has finalized a draft titled the “Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act 2026”. The draft has reportedly been placed in the public domain for consultation before being presented before Parliament.

The proposed system envisages a 27-member Islamabad Capital Territory Assembly, comprising 21 directly elected members, five reserved seats for women and one seat for minorities.

Under the proposal, the assembly would elect a local leader who could be designated either Chief Minister or Mayor. The elected administration would take responsibility for major civic and social services currently handled by various bureaucratic institutions.

The proposed devolution would cover health, education, municipal services, waste management, revenue collection and social welfare, with 27 administrative departments expected to come under the new setup. The structure would operate through a Chief Secretary and four dedicated secretaries.

However, law and order and master planning would remain under federal control in view of Islamabad’s strategic importance. The federal government would also retain the authority to issue binding directions to the local administration.

The proposed legislation would further seek to merge relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 2015 and the CDA Ordinance 1960, potentially ending overlapping jurisdictions that have long complicated governance in the capital.

The draft also proposes six specialized authorities: the ICT Health Authority, ICT Education Authority, Environment and Climate Authority, Social Welfare and Inclusion Authority, Tourism and Culture Authority, and Digital and E-Governance Authority.

Under the proposed restructuring, Islamabad would also be divided into three town corporations aligned with National Assembly constituencies. The new arrangement would include three mayors and six deputy mayors.

The committee’s recommendations also touch upon a broader national debate over administrative decentralization. The proposal discusses the possibility of creating 12 to 15 provinces or, alternatively, establishing 160 fully empowered district governments.

Supporters argue that smaller administrative units could bring government services closer to citizens, while opponents have raised concerns about financial costs, constitutional complications, water distribution under the 1991 Water Accord and changes to Senate representation.

Government sources clarified that although the Islamabad reform proposal has reached an advanced stage and is currently open for consultation, no final decision has been made regarding the creation of new provinces across the country.

The proposal still faces significant hurdles, including the financial burden of establishing new assemblies and administrative structures, complex legal requirements and possible political resistance.

Minute Mirror maintains that the reform debate must be judged on documented facts, public interest and institutional accountability rather than speculation. The proposed Islamabad model could therefore become a significant test of whether greater political and administrative authority can be transferred to the people of the capital.

Public consultation is now underway, with citizens, legal experts and civil society being invited to submit their views before the draft moves towards the parliamentary stage.