Local Issues — Islamabad Capital Territory
Priority issues for a territory of 2,363,863 people across about 906.5 km².
Islamabad Capital Territory
1. Road infrastructure
Rapid urbanisation, traffic congestion and pressure on road networks affect daily mobility, while peripheral and rural areas require continued road rehabilitation and improved connectivity. Deteriorating rural link roads and weak maintenance hinder access to essential services.
2. Water crisis
Islamabad faces growing pressure on its water supply because of rising demand, seasonal shortages and drinking-water quality. 36.76% of people have no access to safe drinking water. PCRWR’s October 2024 assessment found 24% of sampled household tap supplies unsafe. Water from 36 filtration plants, 42% of waterworks and 17% of tube wells has been reported unfit for drinking.
3. Health
Major public hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), face substantial patient demand, creating pressure on beds, staff and specialised healthcare services. Islamabad has 1.18 hospital beds per 1,000 people, against a WHO recommendation of 5.
4. Unemployment
According to the 2023 Census, Islamabad’s unemployment rate was 7.1%, while 40.25% of young people aged 15–24 were neither employed nor in education. The key socio-economic indicator list also records unemployment at 9.5%.
5. Environmental challenges
Pollution in Rawal Lake, inadequate waste management and threats to Margalla Hills National Park — including encroachments and deforestation — remain key environmental concerns. Islamabad has one sewerage disposal plant, in Sector I-9/1. Phase IV was treating about 1.5 MGD against a design capacity of 10 MGD, and the treated effluent was discharged into Nullah Lai.