By Urdu Report Editorial Team
The government has accelerated preparations to introduce a new administrative model for Islamabad amid an ongoing debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units.
A proposed framework for the future structure of the federal capital has been presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by a high-level special committee.
Proposed 27-Member Islamabad Assembly
The draft recommends establishing a 27-member Islamabad Assembly, with its own chief executive and 27 administrative departments.
Under the proposal, 21 assembly members would be directly elected by voters. Seven seats would be allocated to the Islamabad Assembly from each National Assembly constituency in the capital.
The draft also recommends five seats for women and one seat for minorities.
Chief Executive and Administrative Powers
The proposal suggests creating either a chief minister or mayor as the chief executive of Islamabad.
The capital’s 27 administrative departments would operate under the Islamabad government. Health, education, environmental affairs and civic services would fall under the local government’s responsibility.
However, law and order and master planning would remain under the federal government. The powers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other institutions would also be redefined under the proposed model.
Federal Government to Retain Key Functions
According to the draft, the Election Commission would be responsible for conducting elections to the Islamabad Assembly.
Law and order and master planning would continue to be handled by the federal government through a ministry or the governor. The Islamabad Assembly would have administrative and financial autonomy similar to that of a provincial setup.
The proposal also recommends transferring all CDA powers and responsibilities to the Islamabad local government. Other institutions operating under the Local Government Act would also be transferred to the local government.
The Islamabad local government would formulate its own rules of business to manage its affairs.
Proposed Administrative Structure
The draft recommends appointing a chief secretary and four secretaries to run Islamabad’s administrative affairs.
The four secretaries would be assigned responsibilities for different administrative groups and departments. Federal institutions established to serve the entire country would continue operating in Islamabad.
The high-level special committee included Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Mohsin Naqvi. Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister Musadik Masood Malik also contributed to preparing the proposed model.
