Secretariat Islamabad: The Complete Guide
The Pakistan Secretariat is where Pakistan is governed from — the blocks on Constitution Avenue that house the federal ministries. This guide covers its location, history, block-by-block ministries, and how citizens can reach the government.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Quick answer: The Pakistan Secretariat (also called the Federal Secretariat) is the headquarters of the Government of Pakistan, located on Constitution Avenue in the Red Zone, Islamabad. Built in the 1960s as the nucleus of the new capital’s administrative centre, its lettered blocks (A to Z, including the Kohsar Block) house federal ministries — from Finance and Interior to Education and Foreign Affairs. The Cabinet Division, which coordinates the federal cabinet under the Prime Minister, operates from the Cabinet Block on the same avenue.
At a Glance
Pakistan Secretariat: Key Facts
The address every official letter in Pakistan begins with.
Built as Islamabad’s first official complex
Lettered blocks, incl. Kohsar Block
Federal ministries & divisions housed
High-security zone, Constitution Avenue
Overview
What the Pakistan Secretariat Is
Not one building — a whole administrative city within the capital.
The Federal Secretariat, universally known as the Pakistan Secretariat or Pak Secretariat, is the headquarters complex of the Cabinet and Government of Pakistan. It sits on Constitution Avenue in the Red Zone — the high-security strip that also holds the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister’s Office and Aiwan-e-Sadr. The complex is organised into lettered blocks (A to Z), including the prominent Kohsar Block. Each block houses one or more federal ministries, divisions and attached departments, and official addresses across Pakistan routinely read “X Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad“.
1960s
History: Islamabad’s First Official Buildings
The Secretariat came before almost everything else in the new capital.
According to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s architectural records, the Government Secretariat Buildings were the first official structures constructed in Islamabad, forming the nucleus of the capital’s administrative centre while the rest of the city was still on the drawing board. Designed in the 1960s under the Doxiadis master plan era, the blocks are clustered in two groups of L-shaped blocks connected by circulation bridges, with four- and six-storey office floors and façade treatments responding to solar orientation. They were deliberately placed on the same axis as the Parliament and the Presidency — the three branches of state sharing one road to symbolise the unity of the state.
Karachi secretariat
At independence, the federal secretariat operated from Karachi, the first capital, in colonial-era buildings.
Islamabad blocks rise
The first purpose-built secretariat blocks are constructed in the new capital — the nucleus of the administrative centre.
Red Zone headquarters
Blocks A–Z and the Kohsar Block house 30+ ministries, divisions and federal bodies on Constitution Avenue.
Block by Block
Which Ministry Sits in Which Block
The blocks readers ask about most — verified from current official listings.
| Block | Ministries / Offices |
|---|---|
| A Block | Commerce & Textile Industry; Industries & Production; Petroleum & Natural Resources; Energy (Power Division) |
| B Block | National Food Security & Research |
| C Block | Federal Education and Professional Training |
| D Block | Communications; Railways |
| Kohsar Block | Aviation; Maritime Affairs; National Health Services; Human Rights; Religious Affairs; Overseas Pakistanis; Narcotics Control; Council of Common Interest; Board of Investment |
| P Block | Planning & Development |
| Q Block | Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs |
| R Block | Interior; Law & Justice; Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan; Parliamentary Affairs |
| S Block | States & Frontier Regions |
For the full directory with contact routes, see our companion guide: Pakistan Secretariat Islamabad — location, blocks and ministries.
The Coordinator
The Cabinet Division: The Secretariat’s Brain
The office that keeps the federal government running as one machine.
What it does
Established on 14 August 1947, the Cabinet Division (Cabinet Secretariat) provides bureaucratic support to the Cabinet and the Prime Minister, coordinates between federal ministries, manages cabinet meetings and papers, and oversees attached bodies. It functions under the Prime Minister, directed by the Cabinet Secretary.
Where it sits
The Cabinet Block, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad (cabinet.gov.pk). The division’s official hours are 8:30am–4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Its public face includes the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal linkages and the management of federal government business rules.
Practical
Visiting, Passes and Contact
The Secretariat is a high-security zone — plan ahead.
Security clearance
The Red Zone is restricted. Visitors need prior appointment with the relevant ministry or division; entry passes are issued at the gates against a CNIC and the hosting officer’s confirmation.
Write, don’t walk in
Most citizen business is handled by post or online. Address letters to “Secretary, [Ministry], [Block], Pak Secretariat, Islamabad”. Ministries maintain websites with contact directories and complaint cells.
Use the portals
Grievances against federal departments can be filed through the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal app and the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) — faster than a physical visit for most complaints.
Our companion guide how to contact federal ministries in Islamabad lists addresses, portals and the right channel for common requests.
Quick Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, verified answers about the Secretariat.
Where is the Pakistan Secretariat located?
What is the difference between the Pakistan Secretariat and the Cabinet Division?
Which block is the Ministry of Finance in?
Which block is the Ministry of Interior in?
Can the public visit the Pakistan Secretariat?
When was the Islamabad secretariat built?
Explore More Government & Politics Guides
Constitution, parliament, ministries and governance of Pakistan — explained in plain, verified detail.
Block allocations are drawn from current official ministry listings and were cross-checked at the time of writing (11 October 2026). Ministries occasionally shift blocks; confirm on the ministry’s website before visiting.