According to the resolution jointly moved by MPA Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry of the PML-N and MPA Syed Ali Haider Gillani of the PPP, 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 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 be required to convene their first session within 21 days of the election.
The Punjab Assembly stressed that local governments are the backbone of democracy and that their continuity and empowerment are vital for effective public service delivery.
The text noted that after the 18th Amendment, elected local bodies in Punjab could function for only two years. It 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, pointing out 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 mentioned that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Lahore Charter also declared empowered local governments essential to democracy.
It recalled that even the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had in December 2022 recommended amendments to Article 140-A.
Meanwhile, the ECP on Friday agreed to grant two and a half months to the provincial government in Punjab to finalize the delimitation process for local government elections.
Talking to the media, Punjab chief secretary and secretary local government said that all preparations for the polls would be completed by AprilMay 2026, ensuring that local government elections in Punjab are held on time and without postponement.
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 from both the provincial government and the commission.
During the meeting, CEC Raja emphasized that conducting local government elections is the joint responsibility of the Punjab government and the ECP.
He directed the provincial authorities to provide necessary rules, data, notifications, and maps to enable timely delimitation of constituencies and ensure that the ECP can fulfil its constitutional obligations.
Punjab chief secretary briefed the meeting that the Local Government Act 2025 has been enacted and the draft delimitation rules have already been shared with the ECP.