The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Punjab government have reached a consensus to conduct local government elections in the province within the timeframe of December 15, 2026, to January 15, 2027. This decision emerged during a meeting led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The session focused on the arrangements and scheduling for the upcoming local government polls in Punjab. The ECP was updated on the completion of the delimitation process across the province, a crucial step before elections can proceed.
In a significant development, Sikandar Sultan Raja emphasized that holding local government elections is a constitutional mandate under Article 140A. He further highlighted the ECP’s legal obligation under the Elections Act to organize these elections within 120 days following the expiration of the current local governments’ terms.
Punjab’s Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq reaffirmed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s commitment to ensuring the elections take place as scheduled. He noted that adequate time is necessary to prepare for the polls and secure all required resources.
Considering academic examination schedules and typical foggy weather conditions during winter, the period from December 15 to January 15 was proposed as the most suitable window for conducting the elections.
Meanwhile, the Punjab chief secretary informed the meeting that the provincial administration intends to hold the local government elections in multiple phases. The ECP has requested a comprehensive plan from Punjab’s government detailing how these phased elections will be implemented.
