Former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Shabbar Zaidi has sparked debate by suggesting that Pakistan’s capital should be moved from Islamabad to Lahore. He made the remarks during the launch of his autobiography “32 Anker Road” in Lahore, where he discussed the need for a “reset” in the country’s political and administrative system.
Zaidi acknowledged that he was unable to achieve major reforms during his tenure as FBR chairman despite consistent efforts. He also called for banning religious political parties, expressing concern that Lahore — once a hub of progressive thinkers and nationalists — had gradually lost its cultural and intellectual vibrancy.
During the book launch, several participants praised Zaidi for his honest take on Pakistan’s governance and economic challenges.
Veteran journalist Husain Naqi highlighted the diminishing prospects for democracy, while former State Bank governor and Punjab’s ex-finance minister Shahid Hafeez Kardar blamed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for worsening Pakistan’s structural issues. Kardar emphasized the urgent need for tax and governance reforms to improve institutional efficiency within the FBR.
Zaidi’s remarks about relocating the capital have stirred mixed reactions among political observers and economists. Islamabad has been the capital since the 1960s when it replaced Karachi as the seat of government. Shifting it again, experts say, would require extensive administrative, financial, and legal measures — making it a largely symbolic proposal.
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Analysts believe Zaidi’s comments reflect growing frustration with bureaucratic inefficiencies and excessive centralization in Pakistan’s governance model. Lahore, being the country’s cultural and academic heart, remains a center for political dialogue, business, and innovation — adding weight to Zaidi’s thought-provoking suggestion.
