Punjab governor signs Local Government Act 2025, paving way for polls

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has signed the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, paving the way for local government elections in the province.

Following the governor’s approval, a gazette notification will now be issued, which the Punjab government will forward to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The ECP, on the request of the Punjab government, will carry out delimitation and demarcation of constituencies under the new act.

The commission had earlier decided to hold local government elections in December.

Earlier, the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Local Government had approved the Local Government Bill, 2025. Later the provincial assembly approved it.

The Punjab Assembly Secretariat had sent the approved bill to the governor, who signed it today.

On October 8, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced its reserved verdict, deciding to conduct local government elections in Punjab in the last week of December.

The decision was made by a five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

During the hearing, the chief election commissioner remarked that it was embarrassing for the commission that local government elections had not yet been held in Islamabad and Punjab.

A special secretary from Punjab’s Local Government Department had appeared before the commission during the proceedings.

Punjab government intends to conduct local government elections in December 2025. Under the proposed legislation, a new local government structure will be implemented in the province.

The bill includes provisions for the demarcation of new constituencies across Punjab as well. The district administration will assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in this process.

According to the act, the existing ward system will be abolished at the Union Council level. Each Union Council will elect nine members, who will be required to join a political party within one month of their election.

These nine elected members will choose a chairman and vice chairman from among themselves. They will also elect members for reserved seats.