A high-powered committee has proposed an Islamabad governance reform that would create an elected Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) government with a 27-member assembly and a chief executive. The committee submitted its 138-page report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal led the committee that drafted the “ICT Governance Model” report. Islamabad’s population has crossed 2.42 million, the report notes, but institutional reform has not kept pace.
The proposed ICT government would have administrative and financial autonomy comparable to that of a provincial government. It would, however, retain Islamabad’s federal status. The assembly would seat 21 directly elected members, five women in reserved seats and one minority representative.
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The assembly would elect a chief executive. The federal government would decide the designation — either chief minister or mayor. Law and order, along with master planning, would remain with the federation due to the capital’s status.
The plan moves operational responsibilities from federal ministries and bodies to the ICT government. This includes the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The committee says this shift will cut duplication. The report also proposes a unified Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act with separate Rules of Business.
To manage the transition, the report recommends three committees: legislative, finance and transition. They would draft laws, design fiscal transfers and oversee the phased handover. The committee expects only a limited new financial burden because the plan restructures existing institutions rather than creating new ones.
The report also proposes an “Islamabad Smart City” model. It rests on four pillars: environmental conservation, heritage, public participation and digital governance. Six specialised authorities would cover health, education, social welfare, tourism and culture, environment and climate, and digital governance.
The rollout spans five years. It opens with legal and institutional transition, then moves to creating the new authorities, integrating digital systems and consolidating performance. The plan ties into Uraan Pakistan, the Digital Pakistan Policy, the National Urban Policy Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
