Call to hold LG polls, restore district councils

LAHORE:In a democracy, the true purpose of a local government system is to decentralise political, administrative and financial powers to the local government institutions functioning at the grassroots level—ensuring that the public issues are resolved by their elected representatives, said civil society experts in a press statement on Friday.

Last elections to local government institutions were held during 2015 and even after lapse of nearly 10 years, people have not been enabled to exercise their right to elect the LG representatives.

Civil Society representatives demanded promulgation of Local Government Act 2025 and holding of the LG elections in Punjab on urgent basis. Irfan Mufti, political economist, expressed that a vibrantly functional democratic setup compulsorily comprises of federal, provincial and local governance structures. Absence and/or dysfunctionality of LG system compromises the doctrine of people’s practical representation in democratic governance; hence it is necessary that local government institutions entrusted with the perfect autonomy in accordance with the Clause 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan should be put in place and authorised to work to the best of its optimum potentials.

Arshid Mirza, Executive Director of Baidarie, said that after nearly a decade-long hiatus, preparations for local government elections are once again under way in Punjab. The introduction of the Local Government Bill 2025 by the current PMLN-led government was initially welcomed with hope. However, the content of the bill raised serious concerns. Currently under review by the standing committee and pending approval by the Punjab Assembly, the bill proposes to abolish the elected district councils and replace them with district authorities led by deputy commissioners.

He appreciated the government’s initiative to revive the local governance system, but any such reform must be rooted in constitutional values, inclusivity, and democratic empowerment. The lack of adequate representation—such as the allocation of only one seat for women out of nine at the Union Council level—is unacceptable. He demanded 33% reserved seats for women, inclusion of peasants and labourers, and the right for minorities to elect their representatives through direct vote. Hina Noureen Advocate emphasised that the transfer of administrative and political powers to officers instead of elected officials contradicts Article 140A of the Constitution, which mandates the devolution of authority to elected representatives. Replacing district councils with authorities chaired by DCs turns the local government into a mere extension of provincial control, not an autonomous democratic institution.

Hina Noureen said that the draft for the Local Government Act 2025 provides for formation and functioning of CBOs to be active and efficient partners of local development process. The political affairs expert Salman Abid said that the bill does not establish a genuine local government structure but rather a municipality system controlled by the provincial executive through the chief minister. He demanded the Punjab government reconsider this bill through broad-based consultations, ensuring the restoration of district councils, safeguarding democratic representation, and truly empowering the people at the grassroots level.