Islamabad set to become new administrative unit

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad could become Pakistan’s first new administrative unit under a proposed governance model finalised by a high-powered committee.

The committee is headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. It has finalised 20 recommendations for restructuring the administration of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The proposals have been shared with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The plan seeks to transfer several powers from the federal government to the ICT. It also proposes an elected government for the federal capital.

Under the proposal, Islamabad would have its own 27-member Capital Territory Assembly.

Twenty-one members would be elected directly. Five seats would be reserved for women. One seat would be reserved for minorities.

The Election Commission of Pakistan would conduct the elections.

Each existing National Assembly constituency in Islamabad would be divided into seven constituencies for the ICT Assembly.

Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution would apply to members of the proposed assembly.

The assembly would elect its leader. The leader would be known as the chief minister or mayor.

The chief minister or mayor would serve as the chief executive of the ICT government. The office-holder would be answerable to the elected assembly.

The proposed system would give Islamabad its own administrative departments. These departments would broadly follow the provincial model.

Most departments would work under the ICT government. However, law and order and master planning would remain under federal control.

The federal government could exercise these powers through the relevant federal minister. Another option would allow the appointment of a governor for Islamabad.

The proposal also seeks to transfer most powers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to the ICT government.

Master planning would remain an exception. Its powers would continue to rest with the federal government.

The local government structure would also be changed.

Islamabad would have union councils as its local government units. They would work with the ICT government’s local government department.

Powers currently assigned to other institutions under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015 would also be transferred to the ICT government.

The proposed system would include a chief secretary for Islamabad. The existing chief commissioner could be appointed to the position.

Four secretaries would oversee different groups of departments.

The names and responsibilities of these posts could later be changed through the rules of business.

The law and order and master planning departments would report through the chief secretary to the relevant federal minister or governor.

The committee has based its recommendations on greater administrative autonomy for Islamabad.

It has also proposed stronger democratic oversight through an elected representative government.

The committee wants to use existing administrative structures where possible. It also recognises Islamabad’s special status as the federal capital.

The proposed arrangement would be introduced through an Act of Parliament rather than a constitutional amendment.

If approved, the plan would represent a major change in the governance structure of Islamabad. It would also give residents of the federal capital a directly elected territorial legislature and government.