ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday informed the National Assembly that Islamabad was undergoing major reforms aimed at transforming it into Pakistan’s first Smart City.
Responding to a calling attention notice, Talal Chaudhry said that the government would unveil “Vision Islamabad 2027” later this month, outlining how the capital will evolve over the next two years into a safe, secure, modern, and smart city.
Talal Chaudhry further pointed out that despite Islamabad’s population growing three to four times faster than other major cities, no significant addition has been made to hostel-related infrastructure over the past 20 years particularly for working women in the federal capital.
He said that multiple security and policing mechanisms are already in place to address concerns of working women, particularly those residing in hostels across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Asiya Naz Tanoli and Huma Akhtar Chughtai in the National Assembly, the minister said that women-focused safety measures include the women-sensitive 1815 police helpline, a separate Inspector General Police Complaint Cell, an independent emergency helpline, online police stations, and mobile police units staffed exclusively by female officers.
He said that calls made by women were automatically transferred to female officers to ensure better communication and comfort. Dedicated women desks at police stations and mobile policing units, commonly known as “police stations on wheels,” are also operational to provide prompt assistance, he added.
The minister noted that over the last 20 years, there has been no significant addition to hostel-related infrastructure, despite Islamabad’s population growing three to four times faster than other major cities.
Responding to a question on the construction of new working women hostels, Talal Chaudhry, however, said that there was currently no plan under the ICT administration to build new hostels.
He also pointed out widespread violations where hostels are being operated illegally in residential areas instead of approved commercial buildings.
Several bills were laid before the house on Friday including the Export Development Fund Amendment Bill, 2026, National Tariff Commission Amendment Bill, 2026, the Export Import Bank of Pakistan Amendment Bill, 2026, Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganization Amendment Bill, Life Insurance Nationalization Amendment Bill, Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Amendment Bill, Islamabad Capital Territory Condominium (Ownership and Management) bill and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Amendment Bill, 2026.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also laid before the National Assembly the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Ordinance, 2025 and Transfer of Railways Amendment Ordinance 2025.
