PML-N Supports Proposal for Islamabad Provincial Status

Key Takeaways

PML-N Islamabad chapter backs Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s proposal for Islamabad to become a province.
Residents pay taxes but receive no NFC Award share, leading to demands for provincial status.
Proposed Islamabad Assembly will have 27 members, with a chief minister or mayor as the chief executive.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Islamabad chapter has fully endorsed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s proposal to grant Islamabad provincial status. This move is seen as a significant step towards addressing long-standing demands of the city’s residents.

Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, expressed support, stating, 'We are not only backing the interior minister’s statement about Islamabad, but let me thank him, as provincial status for Islamabad is a longstanding demand of the residents of the capital city.'

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the injustice faced by Islamabad residents, who pay various taxes but receive no share from the NFC Award. He noted, 'You know, only Excise and Taxation collects Rs20 billion annually, which directly goes to Account A (the federal government’s kitty). Similarly, residents pay income tax, stamp duty, land transfer fees and many more taxes, while in return, they get nothing from the NFC Award.'

Without provincial status, the issues of Islamabad’s residents could not be addressed properly, according to Mr Nawaz. He explained, 'In urban areas, the CDA, after selling its land, carries out development work. While for rural areas, we have to request the federal government for various packages and most of the time we remain unsuccessful. Therefore, an NFC share is the only solution.'

The proposal includes a proposed Islamabad Assembly with 27 members, 21 directly elected, seven from each of the three National Assembly constituencies, five women on reserved seats, and one minority member. The assembly will elect a leader, who will serve as the chief minister or mayor, while the chief commissioner will be replaced with a chief secretary.

Under the proposal, all departments would function under the assembly, except law and order and master planning, which would remain under the federal government. Mr Nawaz said, 'We want a provincial-style government for Islamabad.'

Experts suggest that if the government proceeds with the plan, changes to the Local Government Act or its replacement with a new law, as well as amendments, would be required. This could further delay local government elections in Islamabad, which are already facing delays.

Mr Nawaz added, 'No issue. We don’t want to hold ineffective local government elections like those held in 2015-16. We want an efficient and vibrant system to resolve public issues.'

The move is expected to further delay local government elections in Islamabad, as changes to laws and delimitation could be necessary. The PML-N’s support for the proposal is seen as a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issue of provincial status for the capital city.

We are not only backing the interior minister’s statement about Islamabad, but let me thank him, as provincial status for Islamabad is a longstanding demand of the residents of the capital city.
Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior

You know, only Excise and Taxation collects Rs20 billion annually, which directly goes to Account A (the federal government’s kitty). Similarly, residents pay income tax, stamp duty, land transfer fees and many more taxes, while in return, they get nothing from the NFC Award.
Mohsin Naqvi, Interior Minister