The Federal Government’s indecision has stalled progress on the long-awaited review of the Islamabad Master Plan, according to a written reply submitted to the Senate by Interior Minister Mohsin Navi.
The minister provided an update on the Federal Commission formed to address the city’s urban challenges, revealing that its work remains in limbo despite extensive groundwork completed in earlier years.
In his reply, Navi informed the Senate that the Federal Cabinet had constituted the Federal Commission in January 2019 on the Islamabad High Court’s directions in WP No. 676/2017, dated April 19, 2018. The Commission, tasked with revising the Islamabad Master Plan for 2020-2040, held several meetings to evaluate the city’s existing conditions and develop solutions.
The Commission also suggested hiring consultants and revising its Terms of Reference (TORs), which the CDA Board endorsed in December 2019 by adopting an interim report prepared by the Commission.
The progress of the Commission, however, came to a standstill following the change of the Federal Government. Many members resigned, while others became unresponsive, effectively halting its operations. A summary for reconstituting the Commission was submitted to the Ministry of Interior in December 2022, but no action has been taken. In January 2024, the Federal Cabinet directed the Ministry to engage stakeholders and submit a revised proposal, with suggestions to include private sector experts of international repute, but a decision is still pending.
Experts have pointed out that the original master plan for Islamabad, developed by Doxiadis Associates of Greece, was designed to be revised every 20 years to address evolving urban needs. Successive governments, however, neglected this recommendation, making ad hoc and selective amendments without proper professional guidance. Over the years, federal cabinets have approved 45 changes to the original plan, resulting in uncoordinated urban development. Meanwhile, the capital’s population has grown significantly, creating mounting pressures on housing, infrastructure, and public services.