THERE is a proposal for a new governance model in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), based on devolution of powers from the federation to the ICT as a federating unit. This has been recommended by a high-powered committee led by Minister for Planning and Development Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, which was constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to examine a better governance model for the Federal Capital. It has finalized 20 major recommendations — proposing an elected ICT Government (ICTG), a representative legislature and provincial-style departments, while retaining federal control over law and order and master planning. Under the proposed model, the ICT Assembly (ICTA) would comprise 27 members, who would elect a leader, to be called the chief minister/mayor, to serve as the chief executive of ICTG and remain accountable to the assembly.
Islamabad — both urban and rural territories — should serve as a role model of governance for other parts of the country but unfortunately it is not the case because of the prevailing hotchpotch system, which has not delivered as intended by those who visualized it over decades. Islamabad, covering an area of about one thousand square kilometers, is smaller than a majority of other administrative units of the country, therefore, it should not be a difficult proposition to make it a model of governance, development and facilitation of the citizens. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) surely made an impact in initial decades but its performance deteriorated subsequently because of various factors and reasons. Then came the idea of Islamabad Capital Administration but management and development of the city and rural areas left much to be desired. Another concept of governance was introduced in the shape of Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation but no improvement in the situation was noticed and a few days back a National Assembly panel cleared amendments to local government law envisaging creation of three separate metropolitan corporations — one each for the three NA constituencies of the ICT. The idea of having a Metropolitan Corporation was to entrust management of the capital to an elected body but regrettably more powers were granted to the Government-appointed administrator, making mockery of the concept of elected representation. The responsibilities and functions of the governance are exercised in an overlapping manner by CDA, ICT Administration, Metropolitan Corporation and Interior Ministry. In this backdrop, the idea of an elected assembly headed by a chief minister or mayor is not bad if it is fully empowered and there is no duplication or roles and responsibilities. The idea to leave master planning and law and order with the Federal Government is reflective of lack of trust in the elected government of Islamabad and would become a permanent source of nose-poking into its affairs. The responsibility of master planning should rest with the institution that governs the area and if other provincial governments can take care of law and order why not the ICT Government. In a welcome development, the committee has proposed that the ICTG enjoy administrative and financial autonomy similar to a provincial government. All institutions established for the ICT would serve the entire territory, rather than only urban areas and function under the ICTG. Federal institutions established for the whole country would continue operating in the capital as they do in other provinces. Of course, the Ahsan Iqbal-led Committee has proposed draft recommendations and these can be and should be amended after exhaustive public debate on the issue of a new model of governance in the Federal Capital. Reforms are always welcome if these are intended to bring about improvements in the system but frequent experiments weaken the system and create more problems than benefits. Therefore, the proposed reforms in the governance system of Islamabad must be discussed threadbare before their finalization so that there is no need in future to have another experience.
