Homenet Pakistan urges protection of democratic mandate

Lahore, July 2026: HomeNet Pakistan, in partnership with AwazCDS/PDA, organized a high-level policy dialogue with Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), including members of the Standing Committee on Local Government, to discuss legislative reforms aimed at promoting a stronger, more inclusive, and constitutionally compliant local government system in Punjab.

The dialogue brought together parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and governance experts to exchange views on the future of local governance and explore ways to strengthen democratic institutions at the grassroots level. The session focused on ensuring political continuity, enhancing public participation, and improving the effectiveness of elected local governments.

Opening the event, Mr. Zia ur Rehman, Chief Executive of AwazCDS-Pakistan, highlighted the constitutional importance of Article 140A, which requires the devolution of political, administrative, and financial authority to elected local governments. He stressed that an effective local government system is essential for democratic governance and improved public service delivery. He urged the Punjab Assembly to introduce legal and institutional reforms that would safeguard democratic continuity, ensure the timely conduct of local government elections, and strengthen the autonomy of elected local bodies.

During the session, Ms. Ume Laila Azhar, Executive Director of HomeNet Pakistan, presented a set of policy recommendations designed to reinforce democratic governance at the local level. She emphasized the need for a stable and party-based electoral framework for local governments, noting that frequent legislative changes have weakened institutional continuity. She referred to the replacement of the Punjab Local Government Act 2022 with the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 as an example of policy shifts that have contributed to delays in restoring elected local governments across the province. She called for legal safeguards to prevent repeated delimitations and unnecessary postponements of local government elections.

HomeNet Pakistan also recommended a transparent and representative mechanism for filling reserved seats allocated to women, youth, minorities, workers, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. According to the organization, such measures would promote broader democratic participation and ensure that local governments better reflect the diversity of society.

In addition, the organization emphasized the importance of returning key municipal responsibilities—including water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and local infrastructure development—to elected local governments. It proposed that provincial and district administrations should primarily provide technical guidance and institutional support rather than directly managing these essential services.

The dialogue was attended by Ms. Sumbal Malik Hussain, Ms. Fizzah Maimona Rao, Ms. Somia Atta, Ms. Rukhsana Kausar, Ms. Farzana Abbas, Ms. Nasreen Riaz, and Ms. Attia Hanif, alongside representatives from civil society organizations and governance experts.

Responding to the recommendations, the participating MPAs appreciated the constructive engagement and acknowledged the importance of strengthening democratic local governance. They reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s commitment to transparency, institutional reforms, and democratic accountability, expressing confidence that these principles would continue to guide the ongoing local government reform process.

The parliamentarians informed participants that the delimitation process had made substantial progress, with geographical boundaries largely finalized. They stated that the remaining objections were expected to be addressed by the end of July 2026. Following the completion of the statutory process, they expressed optimism that the election schedule would be announced, paving the way for timely local government elections.

The MPAs also committed to sharing the recommendations emerging from the dialogue with the Honorable Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and pledged to advocate for legislative reforms that promote constitutional compliance, political continuity, and an empowered local government system capable of responding effectively to citizens’ needs.

Concluding the event, HomeNet Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with parliamentarians, government institutions, and civil society partners to advance democratic governance, strengthen inclusive representation, and support the timely restoration of empowered elected local governments across Punjab.