Coalition urges restoration of elected local governments in Punjab

The Coalition for Restoration of Elected Local Government System in Punjab held a meeting in Lahore on Wednesday

LAHORE: The Coalition for Restoration of Elected Local Government System in Punjab held a meeting in Lahore on Wednesday to discuss the future of elected local governments, the ongoing debate over new provinces and administrative units, and the prospects of local government elections across Punjab.

The participants reviewed constitutional and administrative matters related to local governance and discussed reports regarding possible preparations for local government elections by the ruling political party in Punjab. The meeting also focused on ensuring meaningful representation of women, minorities and other vulnerable segments of society in local government institutions (LGIs).

Coalition coordinator and Executive Director of Baidarie, Arshid Mehmood Mirza, said a major governance challenge was the gap between people at the grassroots level and institutions responsible for making decisions affecting their daily lives.

He said policies and administrative decisions should reflect the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens. According to him, the creation of additional provinces alone would not address governance challenges unless issues related to public participation, accountability and service delivery were also addressed.

Mirza called for elected local governments with sufficient authority to make and implement decisions at the local level, arguing that such institutions should be established through the people’s vote.

Muhammad Tahseen said governance-related discussions should take into account conditions across the country rather than focusing exclusively on Punjab. He maintained that creating more provinces would not automatically resolve problems involving public services, employment opportunities or access to government institutions.

Tahseen stressed the importance of strengthening local governments and enabling residents to participate in decision-making through elected representatives. He said local institutions should have meaningful powers to deal with problems specific to their respective areas.

Mirza Abdul Shakoor highlighted the importance of women’s participation and representation of different social groups in local government institutions. He referred to examples of women councillors who, according to him, had contributed to the welfare and development of their communities.

Zahid Islam clarified that the coalition was not a newly established NGO or a project financed by a single organisation. He described it as a citizens’ platform focused on governance and democratic participation at the grassroots level.

He said the coalition’s framework was based on the Constitution of Pakistan and existing legislation. He maintained that the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, having been enacted and gazetted, should be implemented and elections conducted under its provisions. He added that the coalition could also identify shortcomings in the legislation and propose amendments where necessary.

Bushra Khaliq said the coalition’s immediate objective was to restore elected local governments in Punjab and formulate recommendations for improving the system. She said the group would engage the government, political parties and other stakeholders to push for local government elections and seek improvements to the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 in accordance with Articles 32 and 140-A of the Constitution.

Salman Abdi said the proposed framework included district-level mobilisation involving youth, labour groups, women, minorities, social and political activists and local communities. It also envisaged engagement with government departments, political parties, media organisations and legal institutions.

Irfan Mufti called for a shift towards an empowered local government system, saying civil society should focus on advocating immediate elections rather than responding to uncertain political and administrative developments.

The participants agreed to continue advocacy and develop a coordinated action plan, including district-level activities, media outreach and engagement with political and legal institutions. The coalition’s core committee will formulate further details of the proposed action plan.