Making Islamabad a full province is a flawed approach, whereas granting it province-like autonomy would prove to be a positive step. The federal capital does not need traditional provincial status; rather, it requires provincial powers backed by municipal accountability. Stakeholders must avoid turning Islamabad into just another province and instead establish Pakistan's first genuinely autonomous metropolitan government.
Several proven global models can serve as reference points for this administrative shift. Brasília maintains its own federal district, Buenos Aires functions as an autonomous city, Berlin operates as a city-state, Washington has the District of Columbia, and Canberra encompasses the Australian Capital Territory. A common principle unites all these examples: a national capital does not need to become an ordinary provincial entity to govern itself effectively.
Islamabad requires neither another provincial assembly nor a new chief minister. The capital does not need an additional secretariat or another administrative layer between the taxpayer and the service provider. A closer examination reveals that Islamabad does not suffer from a lack of government oversight, but rather from the absence of better-managed governance structures.
Observers based in Islamabad for the past three decades note a persistent governance crisis characterized by fragmented authority and elusive accountability. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) handles certain matters while the Metropolitan Corporation manages others. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior wields separate powers alongside various federal ministries and agencies that retain additional administrative controls.
When multiple institutions share overlapping responsibilities, accountability often vanishes entirely. Spanning 85 square miles with a population of 1.1 million residents, Islamabad faces fundamental administrative inquiries regarding water supply, sanitation, public transport, land utilization, and educational infrastructure. Granting Islamabad a fully elected metropolitan administration equipped with dedicated revenues, clear expenditure assignments, and measurable targets will ultimately ensure unified and effective governance.