Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has restructured the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for the upcoming local government (LG) elections, dividing it into 125 union councils (UC) as per the ICT Local Government Act (ICTLGA) 2015. This marks a significant increase from the 50 UCs established during the 2015 elections.
The delimitation process, detailed in an exclusive report by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), has undergone five rounds of changes due to recurring administrative and legal adjustments since the last local government term expired. The ECP has sequentially numbered the new UCs and defined their geographical boundaries, adhering to the principles laid out in the Elections Act, including population distribution and geographical compactness.
Starting in the northeast near Margalla Hills National Park, the delimitation proceeds clockwise. Upscale sectors like E-7, F-7, and F-8 now form UC-2, while the Diplomatic Area and surrounding zones are grouped into UC-4. Western sectors like F-10 and F-11 have been designated as UC-119 and UC-122, respectively.
Downtown Islamabad has seen subdivisions into multiple union councils, with sectors G-6 to G-11 and parts of I-8 being reallocated. Meanwhile, major private housing developments along the Islamabad Expressway are distributed across 19 UCs, including prominent societies such as Bahria Town and DHA.
Rural and suburban areas have also been reorganized, with significant clusters like Nurpur Shahan and Bani Gala forming 15 UCs in the northeast, and Tumair and Bahria Enclave forming 11 UCs in the southeast. The western periphery, encompassing rural and urban sectors, has been divided into 22 UCs.
This comprehensive delimitation aims to maintain population balance and facilitate public convenience, with no revisions allowed once the election schedule is notified, as per the ICTLGA. The restructuring reflects Islamabad’s dynamic growth and diverse demographic landscape.