The federal government has moved toward a major restructuring of Islamabad’s local government system by proposing to divide the capital into three separate town corporations, according to sources familiar with the plan. The move is aimed at decentralizing authority and improving service delivery at the local level.
Under the proposed framework, which is being designed on the lines of the Punjab local government model, the current Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad is expected to be phased out. In its place, three town corporations will be established, each led by a mayor and supported by two deputy mayors, bringing the total to three mayors and six deputy mayors across the capital.
Unlike earlier local government setups, the mayors and deputy mayors will not be elected through direct public voting. Instead, they will be chosen through an indirect election process by elected union council chairmen. This system is intended to streamline governance and align local leadership more closely with administrative structures.
The three town corporations are proposed to be formed based on Islamabad’s existing three National Assembly constituencies. Each town administration is expected to have administrative and financial autonomy, allowing for quicker decision-making and more effective management of local affairs.
As part of the restructuring, several functions currently managed by the Capital Development Authority are likely to be transferred to the new town corporations over time. These responsibilities include sanitation, drainage, and certain development-related projects, which officials believe will help address local issues more efficiently.
The proposed tenure for mayors and deputy mayors is four years. Once the required legal amendments are approved, the Election Commission of Pakistan is expected to announce new delimitations along with a revised schedule for local government elections in Islamabad.