Islamabad: A major governance reform proposal has been presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that aims to transform Islamabad into a smart, digitally managed capital over the next five years. The plan proposes the creation of a 27-member elected Islamabad Assembly responsible for overseeing local governance, municipal services, and citizen-focused administration. Under the proposal, the assembly would select its own leader, who could serve as either a Chief Minister or Mayor. Most administrative powers currently exercised by federal institutions would gradually be transferred to the new local government structure, while law and order and master planning would remain under federal authority. Could this become the most significant governance reform in Islamabad’s history?
