PM’s panel proposes elected govt for Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: A high-powered committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and led by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has finalised almost 20 major recommendations for a new governance model in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), based on devolution of powers from the federation to the ICT as a federating unit.

The committee shared its recommendations with the prime minister, proposing an elected ICT Government (ICTG), a representative legislature and provincial-style departments, while retaining federal control over law and order and master planning.

Under the proposed model, the ICT Assembly (ICTA) would comprise 27 members — 21 directly elected, five women on reserved seats and one minority member. Each National Assembly constituency in the ICT would have seven ICTA constituencies. Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution would apply to ICTA members, while elections would be held by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The ICTA would elect a leader, to be called the chief minister/mayor, who would serve as the chief executive of ICTG and remain accountable to the assembly.

The committee proposed that ICT departments be organised on the pattern of provincial departments, though fewer in number, and grouped under the rules of business. All departments would function under the ICTG, except law and order and master planning, which would remain under the federal government through the relevant federal minister or a governor of ICT.

Except for master planning, all functions of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would be transferred to the ICTG. Local government would consist of union councils only, working with the ICT Local Government Department. Functions of other institutions under the Local Government Act 2015 would also be entrusted to the ICTG.

The proposed ICTG would have a chief secretary, replacing the existing chief commissioner and four secretaries heading the departmental groups. The law and order and master planning departments would report to the federal minister or governor through the chief secretary of ICT.

The committee proposed that the ICTG enjoy administrative and financial autonomy similar to a provincial government. All institutions established for the ICT would serve the entire territory, rather than only urban areas, and function under the ICTG. Federal institutions established for the whole country would continue operating in the capital as they do in other provinces.

The committee recommended a single legal framework — the Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act 2026 — incorporating the required provisions of the ICT Local Government Act 2015 and CDA Ordinance 1960, subject to the necessary constitutional amendment.

The ICTG would frame its own rules of business while the federal government’s Rules of Business 1973 would be amended accordingly.

Following approval of the recommendations, a legislative committee may be constituted to draft the required legislation. The proposed committee would comprise the law minister, one ICT MNA, secretary law, secretary interior, chairman CDA and any co-opted member.

The committee said no major new financial arrangements would be required, as the proposal largely involved restructuring existing institutions, apart from the ICTA. However, a suitable mechanism for resource allocation from the federal government to the ICT, including utilisation of local taxes, would have to be worked out.

A finance committee may be constituted for this purpose, comprising the minister for planning and development, one ICT MNA, secretaries finance, planning and interior, chairman CDA and any co-opted member.

After the new legal architecture is established, a transition committee may be constituted under the Act to oversee implementation. The proposed committee would comprise the minister for parliamentary affairs, one ICT MNA, secretary interior, chairman CDA and any co-opted member.

Under Schedule B of the recommendations, the federal government would retain only two departments — law and order and master planning — while the ICTG would assume responsibility for 26 departments.

These would include Agriculture and Livestock; Auqaf, Zakat and Religious Affairs; Communications and Works; Cooperatives; Disaster Management and Civil Defence; Education; Energy; Environment Protection; Excise and Taxation; Finance and Revenue; Food; Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries; Health; Housing and Public Health; Industries and Commerce; Information and Culture; Irrigation; Labour and Human Resource; Land and Revenue; Law, Human Rights and Prosecution; Local Government; Planning and Development; Services and General Administration; Social and Population Welfare; Transport; and Youth and Sports.

The departments may be renamed, grouped, added or deleted under the ICTG’s Rules of Business.