Islamabad: The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, has introduced a significant restructuring of local governance in the region. The ordinance establishes three Town Corporations in place of the existing Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI), aligns local structures with National Assembly constituencies, and modifies several electoral and administrative provisions.

According to the ordinance, which amends 15 sections of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act (ICTLGA), 2015, the transformation includes the creation of Union Councils within each Town Corporation. The federal government will now determine the number of these councils, a departure from the previous fixed count of 125. This change aims to provide flexibility, although it prohibits alterations to the number of councils once an election schedule is announced.

The ordinance also eliminates ward-based elections within Union Councils, opting instead for a multi-member constituency model where voters select multiple representatives. This shift is accompanied by the removal of a legal basis for party-based elections, although candidates can join political parties post-election.

The new framework significantly reduces the representation of women and other groups on reserved seats. Women's representation in particular sees a decrease from 41 to 12 members across the newly-formed Town Corporations.

Furthermore, the ordinance introduces changes to the appointment and powers of unelected administrators, removing previous restrictions and allowing them to serve indefinitely. Administrators gain additional powers, including initiating local taxes, subject to federal government oversight.

The ordinance reflects a strategic restructuring to enhance alignment with national constituencies while altering the electoral and administrative dynamics of local governance in Islamabad.