Islamabad’s governance structure to be modernised to meet growing urban needs: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2026) Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that modernisation of Islamabad’s governance structure had become essential in view of the capital’s growing population and changing urban requirements, as the city’s population had reached around 2.4 million.

Addressing the first consultative meeting on the Islamabad Governance Model, the minister said the city required a modern governance framework capable of meeting public expectations, while immediate institutional reforms were necessary to effectively address the challenges faced by the federal capital.

He said the proposed model envisaged granting the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) government administrative and financial autonomy equivalent to that of a provincial government.

Under the proposed framework, he said, responsibilities related to key sectors, including health, education, environment and public services, would be transferred to an elected government.

Ahsan Iqbal said the elected government of Islamabad would be provided with full authority and responsibility in these areas to establish an effective, transparent and accountable system of governance.

He added that under the proposed ICT governance model, the elected administration would be responsible for ensuring delivery of public services with administrative and financial autonomy.

The minister said there was currently no empowered forum for local legislation in Islamabad, creating a significant institutional gap.

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To address this issue, he said a proposal for establishing a 27-member Islamabad Assembly was under consideration.

He said the establishment of the Islamabad Assembly would help bridge the longstanding gap in local legislation and provide an effective representative platform for resolving civic issues of the capital.

Ahsan Iqbal said detailed studies of governance models of various capitals around the world had been carried out for designing the future administrative structure of Islamabad.

He said the new governance model was being developed by incorporating international best practices while keeping local requirements in view.

He said the proposed administrative structure for Islamabad was an evolutionary framework that would continue to improve with time.

The model, he said, would be based on smart governance principles, enabling it to adapt to the city’s expanding needs, while the governance system would continue to evolve alongside Islamabad’s development and expansion.

The minister said the new governance model would ensure a transparent, efficient and accountable governance system in Islamabad.

He viewed that true accountability began with citizen leadership and public participation, which was why citizens were being given central importance in the reform process.

Ahsan Iqbal welcomed the active participation of citizens in the national consultation process regarding the future of Islamabad, seeking their more valuable views to strengthen the ongoing consultation process to help shape the capital’s

new governance model.