The Punjab Assembly on Friday forwarded to the federal government a resolution, passed by the provincial legislature, proposing an amendment to Article 140A of the Constitution to provide constitutional protection to local governments.
The resolution not only suggests amending Article 140A but also includes a binding provision for holding local government elections within 90 days of the dissolution of councils.
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Punjab Assembly and was jointly presented by MPAs Ahmad Iqbal and Ali Haider Gilani.
The text of the resolution recommends inserting a new constitutional chapter dedicated to local governments, clearly defining their tenure, responsibilities, and structure.
It further proposes that elected representatives must convene their first session within 21 days of taking office.
The resolution also highlights that, following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, elected local bodies in Punjab functioned for only two years.
It emphasises that the establishment of empowered and well-resourced local governments is essential for effective governance and democracy.
Copies of the resolution have been sent to the Secretaries of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that local governments must be granted constitutional protection.
He noted that the proposed 27th Amendment pertains to local bodies and urged Parliament to take it up immediately.
He criticised past governments for abolishing local government laws and stressed that every ruling party, regardless of affiliation, must safeguard local governance institutions.
“Article 140A clearly states that provincial governments are bound to establish local governments,” the Speaker said.
“A constitutional amendment introducing a new chapter should be enacted to ensure the continuity of local governance. When citizens are deprived of the benefits of democracy, their faith in it begins to erode,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a call from MQM-Pakistan Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who congratulated him on the Punjab Assembly’s approval of the resolution.
Khalid Siddiqui remarked that the entire nation appreciates Punjab’s step toward empowering local governments, calling it “a milestone in strengthening the foundations of democracy” and a means of ensuring that the benefits of governance reach ordinary citizens.
On a separate front, the Punjab government has requested additional time from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), terming the four-week period for local government elections insufficient.
According to ECP sources, the provincial government has sought an extension of two and a half months, until January 2026, to finalise delimitation rules under the Local Government Act 2025.
During a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Friday, Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Secretary of Local Government explained that the province’s size makes it impossible to complete delimitation within four weeks.
The provincial representatives presented a draft of delimitation rules to the Election Commission and pledged to submit notifications for additional union councils by December 31, 2025.
The Chief Secretary informed the meeting that notifications concerning the classification of Town Corporations, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Committees, and Tehsil Councils would be delivered to the Election Commission by December 22, 2025. Certified maps of all local bodies will also be provided by January 10, 2026, after which the ECP can begin the formal delimitation process.
Following the briefing, the Election Commission urged the Punjab government to ensure that all tasks outlined in the proposed schedule are completed within the stipulated timeframe so that the Commission can fulfil its constitutional and legal responsibilities.
