On the Margalla-facing slopes of Islamabad stands the Prime Minister House — office, residence and symbol of executive power. Yet some recent prime ministers refused to live there. This guide goes inside.
Quick answer: The Prime Minister House in Islamabad’s Red Zone is the PM’s official residence and principal office. Recent PMs have used it differently — Imran Khan famously declined to live there (using the smaller PM Office / Bani Gala), while others maintained it as both home and office.
In this guide
The Building
Set in the high-security Red Zone near Parliament and the Supreme Court, the PM House complex houses the Prime Minister’s Office (the working secretariat), the official residence, and banquet facilities for state functions. Parts of the sprawling estate have periodically been proposed for conversion — universities, public use — reflecting an ongoing debate about the symbolism of prime ministerial grandeur in a developing country.
Who Lived There — and Who Didn’t
Imran Khan made headlines in 2018 by refusing the PM House residence, opting for the more modest PM Office colony residence and his Bani Gala home — a signature austerity gesture. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto used it as both residence and office in their tenures. Shehbaz Sharif operates from the PM Office complex. The building’s use has thus become a political statement in itself. The office-holders: Pakistan prime minister list.
PM Office vs PM House
People confuse the two: the PM Office is the working secretariat (staff, meetings, files), while the PM House is the official residence — though the complex blends both. Imran Khan’s austerity move was specifically about the residence: he worked from the PM Office but lived modestly. The distinction matters because “PM House” in headlines usually means the institution of the premiership, not the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Prime Minister House?
In Islamabad’s Red Zone, near Parliament House, the Supreme Court and Aiwan-i-Sadr (President House) — the concentrated seat of federal power.
Can the public visit PM House?
No — it’s a high-security restricted zone. Parts of the estate have occasionally been opened for public events, but the residence and offices are off-limits.
