What kind of governance system does Islamabad need as the federal capital continues to grow? At the Islamabad Governance & Provincial Status Convention 2026, ICCI President and the CEO of Win Win Marketing and Developers Sardar Tahir Mehmood, placed this question at the centre of his address with a clear message: “Islamabad ka faisla Islamabad ke baghair nahi.”
His speech focused on a practical problem rather than a political slogan. Islamabad has expanded into a large urban, commercial, educational and technology centre, yet many of its administrative responsibilities remain divided among different institutions. Sardar Tahir Mehmood argued that this has created uncertainty over who is responsible for public services and who citizens should hold accountable.
The convention, organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brought together political representatives, business leaders, legal professionals, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss the future governance structure of Islamabad. The wider discussion centred on representation, financial autonomy, accountability and improved service delivery.
“Islamabad Ka Faisla Islamabad Ke Baghair Nahi”
Sardar Tahir Mehmood opened his remarks with a simple principle: decisions about Islamabad should not be made without the participation of the people who live, work, invest and run businesses in the capital.
This was not a new line introduced only at the convention. Ahead of the event, he had also said that Islamabad’s future could not be decided without Islamabad and that stakeholders should be directly involved in developing a workable governance roadmap.
The importance of this statement is that it frames governance reform as a matter of representation. His argument was not simply that Islamabad needs a different administrative title. It was that the people affected by the system should have a meaningful role in shaping it.
A City That Grew Faster Than Its Governance Structure
Sardar Tahir Mehmood then placed the discussion in historical context. S referred to the Capital Development Authority Ordinance of 1960, under which CDA was created to plan and develop Islamabad when the capital was still being established.
He argued that a framework created for a newly developing capital now has to serve a city with a population of roughly 2.4 to 2.5 million people, along with businesses, industries, educational institutions, IT companies and families that have invested their savings in Islamabad.
He summarized the mismatch in straightforward terms: the city has expanded, but the governance structure has not evolved at the same pace.
The Core Problem: Who Is Actually Accountable?
Sardar Tahir Mehmood asked a question familiar to many Islamabad residents: if there is a problem with a street, road, school, hospital, or another civic service, which institution is responsible? He referred to CDA, the ICT administration, local government bodies, and federal ministries as examples of institutions with roles in the capital.
His concern was not simply that several institutions exist. It was that responsibility can become unclear when authority is divided across them.
The significance of this argument is practical. Accountability becomes difficult when citizens cannot clearly identify which elected or administrative body has final responsibility for a service or decision.
Why He Said This Is an Economic Issue, Not Party Politics
Sardar Tahir Mehmood also responded directly to the suggestion that a chamber of commerce should stay away from politics.
He agreed that ICCI’s role is not party politics, but drew a distinction between politics and governance. Businesses in Islamabad pay taxes, make investments and create employment. Therefore, he argued, the quality of the city’s administration directly affects economic activity.
His speech gave a concrete example: when an approval takes months or a business does not know which office has the authority to decide a matter, that delay has a cost. According to him, the cost is eventually borne by investors, workers and the broader economy.
Support for the Proposed ICT Governance Framework
Sardar Tahir Mehmood also expressed support for the direction of the proposed Islamabad governance reforms and appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the committee involved in preparing the framework.
He referred positively to proposals for an elected assembly, a chief executive and a government structure covering areas such as health, education, environment and civic services. He also welcomed the idea of bringing fragmented legal arrangements under a more unified framework.
Support, but With Consultation Before Final Approval
His speech was not an unconditional endorsement of every detail.
He stressed that ICCI had brought together representatives of different schools of thought, associations and trader groups under one roof so that consultation could take place before the framework was finalised.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood also said ICCI would present its own suggestions in the form of a charter. ICCI proposed financial autonomy, protection of citizens’ and investors’ rights during the transfer of powers, a clear election timeframe, formal consultation with business and civil society, and equal development and representation for rural Islamabad.
A Five-Year Review Was a Key Proposal
One of the most specific points in Sardar Tahir Mehmood’s speech was his call for a review mechanism.
He proposed that if the new system is introduced, the law should contain a provision allowing its performance and structure to be reviewed after five years.
This is significant because his proposal treats the first governance model as a starting point rather than the final constitutional destination. In his speech, he suggested that after the initial period, the system should be reviewed and the question of Islamabad becoming a more autonomous federating unit could then be considered.
Why the Convention Matters
The significance of the Islamabad Governance & Provincial Status Convention lies in the fact that it moved the discussion beyond the simple question of whether Islamabad should receive provincial status.
The debate addressed several more practical questions: Who should make decisions for Islamabad? Who should be accountable for public services? What powers should an elected administration have? How should financial authority work? And how should citizens, businesses and other stakeholders participate before a new system is approved?
Other speakers at the convention also discussed stronger representation, service delivery, rural development and institutional stability, showing that the event included different perspectives rather than a single position on Islamabad’s final constitutional status.
Final Thoughts
Sardar Tahir Mehmood’s speech was ultimately an argument for clearer responsibility in the governance of Islamabad.
He began with the history of a capital created under a planning-focused administrative framework, contrasted that with the scale of Islamabad today, and then identified the central problem as fragmented authority without clear accountability.
His position can be reduced to three connected ideas: Islamabad’s residents and stakeholders should have a voice in deciding its governance model, elected institutions must have real authority if they are to be accountable, and any new structure should be reviewed after it has had enough time to operate.
