President Secretariat Islamabad: Aiwan-e-Sadr Guide
The white step-pyramid on Constitution Avenue is the official residence and workplace of Pakistan’s President. This definitive guide covers its history, architecture, the presidents who lived there, visiting rules, and how the President’s Secretariat works.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Quick answer: The President Secretariat Islamabad — officially Aiwan-e-Sadr (ایوانِ صدر, “Presidential Palace”) — is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Pakistan, located on Constitution Avenue in the Red Zone. Construction began in 1970 and took 11 years; Ghulam Ishaq Khan became its first resident in 1988. Designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone as a modern step pyramid in white marble, it is currently the office and residence of President Asif Ali Zardari (president.gov.pk).
At a Glance
Aiwan-e-Sadr: Key Facts
The house at the top of Pakistan’s constitutional order.
Construction began
First resident: Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Solar plant — world’s first green presidency
President: Asif Ali Zardari (2024– )
Overview
What the President Secretariat Is
Residence, workplace and ceremonial heart of the presidency.
Aiwan-e-Sadr (also spelled Aiwan-e-Sadar) is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Pakistan. It stands on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad’s Red Zone, between the Parliament House and the Pakistan Secretariat — the three organs of state sharing one ceremonial axis. The complex includes the main palace, staff residences (the President’s Colony behind the building), Mughal-inspired gardens, and four main halls named after Pakistan’s founding figures. The presidency’s official website is president.gov.pk, and the administrative head is the Principal Secretary to the President.
1970 – 1988
History: Eleven Years of Construction
A palace conceived in one era, occupied in another.
Construction begins
Work starts on the presidential palace complex on Constitution Avenue, part of Islamabad’s ceremonial core planned around the Parliament.
Building completed
After 11 years, the white-marble step pyramid is structurally complete — though it would wait years for its first resident.
First resident
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan becomes the first president to live and work in Aiwan-e-Sadr, ending decades of makeshift presidential residences in Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Before 1988, Pakistan’s heads of state worked from the Governor-General’s House in Karachi (1947–1959) and later from Rawalpindi. Since Ghulam Ishaq Khan, every president — from Farooq Leghari and Pervez Musharraf to Asif Ali Zardari, Mamnoon Hussain and Arif Alvi — has occupied Aiwan-e-Sadr. Read the full story in our President House Islamabad guide.
Design
Architecture: The Modern Step Pyramid
Edward Durell Stone’s white-marble landmark.
The form
The palace is a modern step pyramid in white marble — a squarish, terraced mass that reads as both contemporary and monumental. Islamic geometric patterns are worked into the detailing, and Mughal-inspired gardens soften the formal geometry. The complex sits at the foot of the Margalla Hills, flanked by the Prime Minister’s House on one side and Parliament on the other.
The green presidency
Aiwan-e-Sadr pioneered environmental upgrades: a 1-megawatt solar power system made it fully reliant on renewable energy, and in 2022 it became the first presidential residence in the world to receive ISO 50001 certification for energy management — billed as the world’s first “green presidency”.
The Office
The President’s Constitutional Role
What the resident of Aiwan-e-Sadr actually does.
Under the 1973 Constitution, the President is the head of state and the symbol of the federation’s unity. The President is elected by an electoral college (the Senate, National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies), must be a Muslim at least 45 years old, and serves a five-year term. Key functions exercised from Aiwan-e-Sadr include assenting to legislation, appointing the armed services chiefs, governors and judges (on advice), granting pardons, and summoning and proroguing parliament. The current (14th) President, Asif Ali Zardari, took office in March 2024.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Aiwan-e-Sadr (ایوانِ صدر) — Presidential Palace |
| Address | Constitution Avenue, Red Zone, Islamabad |
| Architect | Edward Durell Stone |
| Built | 1970–1981; first occupied 1988 |
| Current resident | President Asif Ali Zardari (14th president, since March 2024) |
| Website | president.gov.pk |
Practical
Visiting and Public Access
A working presidency with limited, announced public openings.
First public opening
In December 2018 the government opened Aiwan-e-Sadr to the general public for the first time — visitors entered from 9am to 4pm on production of their CNIC — as part of a policy of opening state buildings.
Designated open days
Since then, the presidency has opened on specific announced days and public holidays. There is no standing daily public access — check official announcements from president.gov.pk before planning a visit.
Security rules
Expect CNIC checks, security screening and restrictions on electronic devices inside. Dress formally; photography rules are announced per event.
Reach the Office
Contacting the President’s Office
The official channels — not the gate.
The presidency’s public face is president.gov.pk, which carries press releases, speeches and contact information for the President’s Secretariat. Petitions and requests are handled through the secretariat’s established channels; the Red Zone gates do not accept walk-in representations. Our companion guide President of Pakistan office contact lists the official numbers, address and the right way to direct a petition — and Aiwan-e-Sadar Pakistan explains the name, meaning and visiting guide.
Quick Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified answers about the President Secretariat.
What is Aiwan-e-Sadr?
When was Aiwan-e-Sadr built?
Who designed the President House Islamabad?
Who is the current President of Pakistan?
Can the public visit Aiwan-e-Sadr?
What does “Sadar” mean?
Explore More Leadership & Elections Guides
Presidents, prime ministers, governors and elections of Pakistan — profiles and explainers in plain, verified detail.
Facts on this page are drawn from official presidency records and architectural sources, cross-checked at the time of writing (11 October 2026).