Federal government has unveiled a sweeping governance reform blueprint for Islamabad Capital Territory, proposing an elected territorial government with administrative and financial autonomy matching provincial governments.
The 138-page report, titled “ICT Governance Model,” was prepared by a high-powered committee led by Planning Commission Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and has been presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The report highlights that the rapid growth of the federal capital into a metropolitan city of more than 2.42 million people has not been matched by adequate institutional and governance evolution.
The proposed Islamabad Capital Territory Government would be led by an elected assembly of 27 members, comprising 21 directly elected seats, five reserved seats for women, and one minority seat.
The assembly would elect its own chief executive, to be designated either as chief minister or mayor, with the final designation determined by the federal government under the new framework.
All administrative subjects would be devolved to the ICT government, except law and order and master planning, which would remain under federal authority given an unique capital status to Islamabad.
Operational responsibilities currently managed by federal ministries and CDA would be transferred to the ICT government, eliminating institutional duplication and administrative overlap across the federal capital.
The reform package proposes a unified Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act, consolidating existing local government and development laws into a single, streamlined legislative framework for the territory.
A major component of the blueprint is the Islamabad Smart City Model, designed to transform the capital into a technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and citizen-centric urban governance centre.
The Smart City vision rests on three pillars: developing Islamabad as a nature capital through eco-tourism, promoting cultural and creative industries, and creating an open city supporting public participation.
Economic analysis cited in the report projects that a unified “Destination Islamabad” strategy could significantly increase tourism revenue, generate employment, attract private investment, and improve local revenue mobilisation.
The report proposes 6 specialised authorities under the ICT government: Health, Education, Social Welfare, Tourism and Culture, Environment and Climate, and Digital and E-Governance authorities.
Each authority would be professionally managed by a qualified chief executive, operate under independent governance structures, and remain subject to performance-based accountability frameworks under the new model.
The reform also envisions an integrated digital governance ecosystem covering land management, taxation, licensing, identity verification, grievance redressal, service tracking, and open data dashboards built on existing Safe City infrastructure.
Implementation is envisioned through a phased five-year rollout, beginning with legal and institutional transition, followed by authority establishment, digital integration, and ultimately performance consolidation across all governance tiers.
