ISLAMABAD: The wait for local governance in Punjab continues, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially decided to postpone the upcoming local body elections. This decision follows the introduction of entirely new legislation by the provincial government.
The announcement came after a key meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. During the briefing, the ECP was informed that the Punjab Assembly has passed the “Punjab Local Government Act 2025,” which has since been approved by the Governor.
With the enforcement of this new act, the previous “Punjab Local Government Act 2022” has been nullified. This change effectively cancels all preparations the ECP had already made under the old law. The commission has decided it must now withdraw all previous notifications regarding delimitation committees and authorities that were established based on the 2022 rules.
The ECP secretary explained that the new 2025 act has significantly altered the structure of local governments. Because of these fundamental changes, holding elections based on the old framework is no longer legally possible.
To move forward, the Election Commission has given the Punjab government a new deadline. The provincial authorities have been granted four weeks to complete the vital tasks of delimitation (setting boundaries for constituencies) and demarcation according to the rules of the new 2025 act. Only after these steps are completed can the ECP begin the electoral process once again, extending the delay for citizens awaiting local representation.
