Islamabad: A high-level government committee has submitted a proposed new governance model for the federal capital to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recommending the creation of a 27-member Islamabad Capital Territory Assembly and a locally elected chief executive. The proposal is not yet final and still requires government approval and legislation.
Under the draft, 21 assembly members would be directly elected, while five seats would be reserved for women and one for minorities. Each of Islamabad’s three National Assembly constituencies is proposed to be divided into seven ICT Assembly seats, creating the 21 directly elected constituencies.
The proposed chief executive could be called either a Chief Minister or Mayor and would be accountable to the elected assembly. The new ICT government could control 27 administrative departments, including health, education, environment and public services.
However, law and order and Islamabad’s master planning would remain under federal control. Powers currently spread across bodies including the CDA would also be reorganised under the proposed structure.
The idea itself is not new. In June 2026, the Ministry of Planning publicly outlined the same 27-member assembly model during consultations, with 21 elected seats, five reserved for women and one for minorities, along with a locally accountable chief executive.
