the special secretary ofThe Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the Punjab government a strict four-week deadline to finalize delimitations and demarcation rules for the upcoming local government (LG) elections under the newly approved Punjab Local Government Act, 2025.
This decision was made during a key meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. The session was attended by ECP members, the commission’s secretary, special secretary law, and other senior officials. The ECP reaffirmed its commitment to holding the LG elections in Punjab in December this year, ensuring the process aligns fully with the new local government legislation.
According to an official ECP notification, the elections will be conducted under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025, which has been passed by the provincial assembly and received formal approval from the governor. As a result, the commission has also decided to withdraw the earlier delimitation schedule that was issued under the previous law.
The Punjab government has been directed to finalize the delimitation and demarcation rules within four weeks, with the ECP emphasizing that no extensions will be granted beyond the set timeframe. The commission made it clear that the timely completion of this process is essential to avoid any delay in the December local government elections.
“If the provincial authorities fail to complete the process within the given timeframe, the matter related to the Punjab LG polls will be taken up for regular hearing,” the ECP warned in its statement.
The ECP’s special secretary further explained that any delimitation conducted under the previous local government framework would be inconsistent with the new act and would therefore violate Section 219 of the Election Act, 2017. This clarification was issued to ensure all electoral procedures comply with the updated legal framework before the polls are held.
The commission reiterated that conducting elections under the correct legal parameters is crucial for transparency and credibility. The new act aims to streamline the local governance system, enhance accountability, and strengthen the democratic structure at the grassroots level in Punjab.
By enforcing this four-week deadline, the ECP has sent a clear message to the Punjab government about its intent to ensure timely and fair local elections. The commission is expected to monitor the progress closely and proceed with election preparations as soon as the delimitation process is completed.
The upcoming Punjab local government elections are anticipated to play a pivotal role in reshaping local administrative structures and empowering communities across the province.
ECP Grants Punjab Four Weeks to Complete Delimitation for Upcoming Local Government Elections
