A proposed draft for establishing an Islamabad Capital Territory Assembly has been presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, paving the way for a new elected administrative structure for the federal capital.
According to sources, the draft was prepared by a high-level committee headed by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal. The proposal recommends establishing the Islamabad Assembly through an Act of Parliament instead of a constitutional amendment.
The proposed structure would have its own assembly, chief executive and 27 administrative departments. It recommends 21 directly elected assembly members, along with five reserved seats for women and one seat for minorities.
The draft proposes that the chief executive of Islamabad could be designated as either a Chief Minister or Mayor, who would remain accountable to the elected assembly. Health, education, environment and civic services are among the areas proposed to be placed under the elected local government.
According to the proposal, law and order and Islamabad's master planning would remain under the federal government, while other administrative matters would be transferred to the elected government.
The draft also proposes restructuring the powers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), with its functions and responsibilities transferred to the Islamabad Capital Territory government.
The proposed system would include a Chief Secretary and four secretaries for administrative affairs. Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution would also apply to members of the proposed assembly, while elections would be conducted under the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Sources say the federal cabinet will consider the proposed structure before legislation is introduced in the Senate and National Assembly.
