Punjab allocates Rs12.52bn for local polls after 11 years

The Punjab government has taken a major step towards holding long-delayed local government elections, approving Rs12.52 billion for the polls that could finally restore elected local councils across the province after an 11-year gap.

The decision was taken during the 36th meeting of the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The allocation signals that the provincial government is preparing for a fresh local election process after years of political, legal and administrative delays.

Punjab last held local government elections in 2015, during the tenure of former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. Polling was conducted in phases between October and December that year, while elected councils formally assumed office in 2017 following indirect elections for mayors and chairpersons.

However, the local government system subsequently faced repeated disruptions.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government dissolved the elected local bodies in April 2019 before their scheduled completion. Although the Supreme Court later ordered their restoration, the councils eventually completed their term on December 31, 2021.

Under Article 140A of the Constitution and the Elections Act, local government elections are required within 120 days after the expiry of local councils. This meant Punjab’s next elections were due in April 2022. Yet successive governments repeatedly changed local government laws, forcing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to restart key preparations.

Polls Could Be Held by November

The latest development has raised hopes that Punjab may finally see local elections later this year.

PILDAT President Ahmad Bilal Mehboob welcomed the cabinet’s decision to allocate funds, describing it as a positive indication that the electoral process could move forward.

He said the ECP had completed the demarcation and delimitation process and dealt with objections, making it possible for the commission to announce an election schedule after August 17.

According to Mehboob, if there is no “unseen factor”, local government elections could be held in Punjab by November 2026.

The move could also have wider political implications. Asked whether the PML-N government’s decision might ease pressure surrounding demands for the creation of new provinces, Mehboob said provincial restructuring remained a complex issue.

However, he noted that holding local elections could, to some extent, reduce the pressure for new provinces by strengthening grassroots representation.

For millions of Punjab residents, the key question now is whether the latest budget allocation will finally translate into polling stations, elected councils and a functioning local government system after years of waiting.