New administrative units: Practical step towards provincial-style structure, 27-member Islamabad Assembly proposed

ISLAMABAD: A major development has taken place towards introducing a provincial-style administrative structure in the federal capital, as a draft model for the new governance system of Islamabad has been prepared and presented to the Prime Minister.

Under the proposed model, Islamabad would have a 27-member assembly and an elected chief executive to oversee the capital’s administrative affairs.

Of the 27 proposed assembly seats, 21 would be filled through direct elections, while five seats would be reserved for women and one for minorities. The proposal envisages seven assembly seats from each of Islamabad’s three existing National Assembly constituencies.

The chief executive would head the proposed Islamabad government and could be designated either as a mayor or chief minister. Elections to the proposed assembly would be conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The draft recommends establishing 27 administrative departments for Islamabad. Departments dealing with health, education, environment, urban development and other municipal and public services would come under the proposed Islamabad government.

A key proposal is the transfer of the powers and functions of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to the new Islamabad government. Functions of other institutions operating under the Islamabad local government framework would also be brought under the proposed administrative structure.

The proposed system would provide Islamabad with greater administrative and financial autonomy, while the new government would have the authority to frame rules of business for running its affairs.

However, matters relating to law and order, policing and master planning are proposed to remain under the federal government. Federal institutions based in Islamabad but responsible for functions across Pakistan would also continue to operate under the federal government.

The draft further proposes the appointment of a Chief Secretary for Islamabad along with four secretaries to oversee different administrative groups and departments.

The proposed model has been prepared by a special committee headed by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. The draft has been submitted to the Prime Minister, but it is not yet a final decision. Further government consideration, legal amendments and legislation would be required before the proposed system could be implemented.

If approved, the model would introduce, for the first time, a provincial-style elected assembly, chief executive and administrative departments for Islamabad, marking a significant step in the ongoing debate over the creation of new administrative units in the country.