LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:
The Punjab Assembly has forwarded to the federal government a unanimously passed resolution seeking an amendment to Article 140-A of the Constitution for constitutional protection of local governments.
According to the resolution jointly moved by PML-N MPA Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry and PPP MPA Syed Ali Haider Gillani, the provincial legislature has proposed that a new chapter titled ‘Local Governments’ be added to the Constitution.
The proposed amendment recommends a clear constitutional definition of the tenure, powers and responsibilities of local governments. The resolution also suggests that local government elections must be held within 90 days of the end of a term, and that elected representatives are required to convene their first session within 21 days of the election.
The Punjab Assembly highlighted that local governments are the backbone of democracy and their continuity and empowerment are vital for effective delivery of public services.
The text noted that after the 18th Amendment, elected local bodies in Punjab could function for only two years. He called the establishment of a powerful and well-resourced local government system “inevitable.”
The assembly urged the federal government to amend Article 140-A without delay, noting that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has already declared local governments a “fundamental component of democracy.”
The resolution further stated that repeated changes to local government laws have weakened institutions, adding that several countries around the world provide constitutional guarantees to local governments.
Citing international precedents, the resolution mentions that the Lahore Charter of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association also declares that empowered local governments are essential to democracy.
He recalled that even the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had recommended amendments to Article 140-A in December 2022.
Meanwhile, the ECP on Friday agreed to give two and a half months to the Punjab provincial government to finalize the delimitation process for local government elections.
Speaking to the media, Punjab Chief Secretary and Local Government Secretary said that all preparations for the elections would be completed by April-May 2026, ensuring that the local government elections in Punjab would be held on time without any postponements.
Both the officials earlier attended an important meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to review arrangements for the upcoming local government elections in Punjab.
The meeting was also attended by ECP members, ECP secretary and other senior officials of both the provincial government and the commission.
During the meeting, CEC Raja emphasized that holding local government elections is the joint responsibility of the Punjab government and the ECP.
It directed the provincial authorities to provide necessary rules, data, notifications and maps to enable timely delimitation of electoral districts and ensure that the ECP can fulfill its constitutional obligations.
The Punjab Chief Secretary informed the meeting that the Local Government Act, 2025 had been enacted and the draft delimitation rules had already been shared with the ECP.
