Stakeholders have urged the Punjab government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold long-delayed local government elections, stressing the need to strengthen grassroots democracy and improve public service delivery.
At an emergency meeting, the Coalition for the Restoration of Elected Local Government System in Punjab and Baidarie’s Board of Directors called for legal and constitutional safeguards to ensure regular elections and continuity of elected local institutions.
Participants highlighted the importance of devolving powers, ensuring adequate funding, strengthening women’s representation and establishing clear rules for transferring authority to elected councils.
The ECP has rejected the provincial government’s proposal to postpone the polls until April 2027, reportedly citing winter fog and Ramadan-related logistical challenges. The terms of Punjab’s last elected local governments expired in December 2021.
The participants urged the provincial government and the ECP to finalise the election schedule through coordination, saying empowered local councils were essential for responsive governance and greater public participation.
