President Asif Ali Zardari has officially promulgated the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance, introducing a significant structural shift in the federal capital’s governance.
The new law replaces the singular Metropolitan Corporation with three distinct Town Corporations aligned with National Assembly constituencies.
Islamabad will now feature a two-tier system consisting of town corporations and union councils (UCs). Each town will be led by one mayor and two deputy mayors.
Islamabad’s new local government rules introduce a dual voting system: secret ballots for UC general members and a ‘show of hands’ for mayors, chairmen, and reserved seats (women, youth, and marginalized groups).
Additionally, independent winners have 30 days post-election to declare their political party affiliation.
In the absence of elected representatives, government-appointed administrators will manage affairs. While local bodies can propose taxes and tolls, all such proposals require final approval from the National Assembly.
This ordinance, one of four issued just ahead of the National Assembly session, empowers the Ministry of Interior and the Election Commission to finalize boundaries and council strengths before the upcoming local government polls.
