Islamabad Plans to Move Electricity Poles Underground Within Two Years
Islamabad could see a major change to its streetscape after the government announced plans to move overhead electricity infrastructure underground and remove electricity poles across the capital within two years.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the plan during a visit to Islamabad, where he reviewed administrative matters and development proposals with officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the district administration.
The initiative is expected to be carried out in coordination with the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). However, detailed project costs, a sector-by-sector rollout schedule and the technical plan for shifting the network have not yet been publicly established.
What Has the Government Announced?
The interior minister said the government intended to remove electricity poles from Islamabad within the next two years and shift the power infrastructure underground.
The proposal would require coordination between the relevant authorities and IESCO, which operates the electricity distribution network serving Islamabad and surrounding areas.
Moving overhead cables underground could change the appearance of streets and reduce the visual clutter created by poles and wires. However, completing such a project across a large urban area would require extensive planning, excavation, cable installation and coordination with other underground utilities.
At this stage, the announcement establishes the government’s stated objective rather than a completed engineering or funding plan.
Why Does Islamabad Want Electricity Lines Underground?
Overhead electricity infrastructure can occupy roadside space and affect the appearance of urban streets. Underground distribution networks can help create a cleaner streetscape and reduce exposure of cables to certain weather-related and accidental forms of damage.
For a planned city such as Islamabad, shifting overhead infrastructure underground could form part of a wider effort to upgrade older sectors and modernise public spaces.
However, underground systems also have challenges. Installation can require substantial upfront investment, excavation may disrupt traffic and access to properties, and locating or repairing faults can be more complex than working on accessible overhead lines.
The benefits will therefore depend on the design, construction quality, maintenance arrangements and the areas covered by the project.
What Role Will IESCO Play?
IESCO is expected to coordinate with the government and relevant civic authorities on the proposed relocation of electricity infrastructure.
The work could involve identifying existing overhead lines, designing underground cable routes, assessing the capacity of distribution equipment and coordinating with other utilities already installed beneath roads and footpaths.
Authorities would also need to plan how electricity supply would be maintained while existing infrastructure is transferred to the new system.
IESCO has previously carried out or supported electricity infrastructure shifting associated with road construction, underpasses, flyovers and other development work in the Islamabad region. Those individual projects, however, are different from the newly announced proposal to remove poles across the capital.
Which Areas of Islamabad Will Be Covered?
The announcement sets out a broad objective for Islamabad but does not provide a complete list of streets, sectors or neighbourhoods that will be addressed first.
The government has separately discussed redevelopment of older residential sectors, including G-6, G-7, G-9 and G-10. These areas may be relevant to the wider urban-upgrade agenda, but a detailed underground electricity rollout for each sector has not yet been confirmed.
Residents should wait for official project notices before assuming that work will begin in a particular street or sector.
How Much Will the Project Cost?
No confirmed overall budget for moving Islamabad’s entire overhead electricity network underground was provided in the reports reviewed for this article.
The cost would depend on the length of cable routes, the number and type of connections, the need to replace distribution equipment, excavation conditions, road reinstatement and the coordination required with other utilities.
A reliable cost estimate would require a detailed engineering assessment and a defined project scope. Until authorities release those details, any total price for the project would be speculative.
Will Residents Face Roadwork or Power Interruptions?
If the proposal moves into implementation, some areas could experience temporary roadwork, traffic diversions and scheduled electricity interruptions while cables and related equipment are installed or transferred.
The extent of disruption will depend on the construction method, the sequencing of work and whether authorities can complete parts of the network without interrupting existing services.
Residents should follow official announcements from IESCO and the district administration for notices about specific roads, work dates or planned power shutdowns. The broad two-year target does not, by itself, mean that every neighbourhood will experience work at the same time.
What Happens Next?
The next important steps would be publication of a detailed implementation plan, confirmation of funding, identification of priority areas and coordination between IESCO, CDA and other relevant departments.
A project of this scale would also need technical designs, procurement arrangements, construction schedules and a plan for maintaining reliable electricity service during the transition.
Until these details are announced, the two-year target should be understood as the government’s stated goal rather than a guarantee that all overhead electricity infrastructure will be underground by a specific date.
The Bottom Line
Islamabad’s government plans to move overhead electricity infrastructure underground and remove electricity poles across the capital within two years, working with IESCO.
The proposal could improve the appearance of streets and form part of broader urban modernisation. Its success will depend on funding, engineering, coordination with other utilities and the pace of implementation.
For now, residents should look for further official announcements on project costs, priority sectors and construction schedules before expecting work to begin in their neighbourhoods.
Editorial note: Verify the latest official announcement and any subsequent IESCO or CDA project documents before publication. No overall budget or detailed sector-wise schedule has been established in the reports reviewed.