Islamabad is one of Pakistan’s greatest national assets. Conceived as a modern, planned capital and admired for its natural beauty, green spaces and orderly layout, it was designed to represent the aspirations of a young nation. Yet, as the city has expanded in population, geography and economic activity, its governance structure has failed to evolve at the same pace.
The proposed establishment of an elected Islamabad Capital Territory government, with a 27-member assembly and its own chief executive, therefore deserves serious consideration. If designed carefully, it could address one of the capital’s most persistent problems: too many institutions exercising overlapping authority, with no single body fully accountable for the overall condition of the city.
Since Islamabad’s inception, the Capital Development Authority has played the central role in planning and developing the federal capital. Over time, however, the scale and complexity of the city have grown far beyond the requirements of its early years. The responsibilities of the CDA now intersect with those of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, the district administration, the Islamabad Police and several federal ministries and agencies.
This fragmentation has created confusion over mandates and accountability.
Different institutions may be responsible for roads, sanitation, water, land management, building regulations, public spaces and municipal services. In some cases, responsibilities overlap; in others, important gaps emerge. When a serious problem occurs, citizens often find themselves moving from one office to another, while institutions debate where responsibility actually lies.
The greatest weakness of such a system is not merely administrative inefficiency. It is the absence of clear accountability.
A modern capital cannot be governed effectively through a structure in which several organizations share authority but none can be held fully responsible for the final outcome.
The proposal reportedly submitted to the prime minister offers an opportunity to reconsider this structure. Under the proposed framework, Islamabad would have a 27-member elected assembly, including directly elected representatives as well as reserved seats for women and minorities. The assembly would elect a chief executive, potentially designated as a chief minister or mayor, who would be accountable to the elected legislature.
This would give Islamabad’s residents a stronger voice in decisions affecting their daily lives.
Health, education, environmental management and municipal services could be placed under a unified territorial government, while elected representatives would provide a direct channel between citizens and the administration.
Public participation is essential. A city cannot be governed successfully without listening to the people who live in it. Islamabad’s residents understand their neighborhoods, transport problems, environmental concerns and municipal needs better than any distant administrative structure.
However, elections alone will not solve Islamabad’s governance problems.
The real objective should be to establish one clearly defined, professionally managed and fully accountable authority for the capital’s civic affairs. This authority must have clearly identified powers, adequate financial resources and the administrative capacity to deliver results.
The proposed transfer of most CDA functions to the new Islamabad government could be an important step toward eliminating duplication. But the transition must be carefully managed. Pakistan should avoid replacing one complicated structure with another.
A comprehensive review of the responsibilities of the CDA, MCI, district administration and other relevant bodies should be conducted before the new system becomes operational. Every function must have a clearly identified institution responsible for it.
Equally important is the need to establish a single chain of accountability.
When roads are damaged, water systems fail, garbage accumulates or a public emergency occurs, citizens should know exactly which authority is responsible. That authority, in turn, must have both the power to act and the obligation to explain its performance.
The issue becomes even more important during disasters and major emergencies. Fragmented governance often produces fragmented responses. Different agencies may work independently, wait for instructions or shift responsibility to one another. Islamabad needs an integrated emergency-management mechanism under a clearly defined command structure.
As Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad will naturally remain politically important. Federal interests, national security requirements and the presence of foreign diplomatic missions must be protected. The federal government therefore has legitimate responsibilities, particularly in areas such as national security and strategic planning.
But this should not mean unnecessary political interference in routine civic administration.
The government responsible for Islamabad’s day-to-day affairs should be empowered to make professional decisions based on law, public interest and technical expertise. Its performance should be judged by measurable outcomes, not political loyalty.
Other federal capitals around the world offer an important lesson: national interests and local democratic governance can coexist. Islamabad does not have to choose between being Pakistan’s federal capital and having an accountable system of local representation. It can successfully be both.
The proposed Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act 2026 could provide a historic opportunity to modernize the governance of Pakistan’s capital. But legislation must be followed by institutional clarity, professional management, financial autonomy and transparent accountability.
Islamabad deserves more than multiple offices with overlapping mandates. It needs a coherent governance structure in which authority is matched by responsibility.
Most importantly, the people of Islamabad must be placed at the center of the system. Their elected representatives should have a meaningful role, their concerns should be heard, and the administration should be answerable for its performance.
A beautiful capital requires more than beautiful roads and green landscapes. It requires effective institutions.
The future of Islamabad should therefore be built around a simple principle: one coherent civic administration, clearly defined responsibilities, adequate resources and full accountability to the people.
That is not merely administrative reform. It is the foundation of a modern capital worthy of Pakistan’s future.
