ECP schedules Punjab local govt election for December-end

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that the local body elections in the province will be held in the last week of December 2025, while giving its decision on the long-delayed local body elections in Punjab.

A five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued a reserved decision after completing the hearing.

The decision states that the local body elections in Punjab will be held under the Local Bodies Act, 2002.

The Election Commission has ordered the provincial government to complete the delimitation of constituencies within two months.

The Election Commission’s decision also states that ‘work has been started immediately on the delimitation of local bodies so that the elections can be held on time.’

During the hearing, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja remarked that ‘the lack of local body elections in Islamabad and Punjab is a source of embarrassment for us. The allegations are coming to the Election Commission, so now we will announce the decision.’

The Punjab government’s Special Secretary for Local Governments appeared before the commission and explained the reasons for the delay in the legislation by the provincial government.

However, the Election Commission expressed dissatisfaction and made it clear that further delay will not be tolerated.

It should be noted that the term of local government bodies in Punjab ended in 2021, after which elections could not be held till now.

The Secretary Election Commission informed the meeting that amendments have been made to the local government laws in Punjab 5 times so far, while the Election Commission has completed the delimitation of constituencies 3 times.

According to the Election Commission, the institution has repeatedly sent letters to the provincial government and several meetings have also been held, but due to the lack of legislation, the elections were delayed.

According to the decision, the local government elections in Punjab will now be held in the last week of December 2025 in any case so that the local government system can be reactivated in the province.