LAHORE, PAKISTAN: The Punjab government has officially notified the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 (PLGA 2025), replacing the 2022 version and setting off a race against time to implement the sweeping changes within just four weeks. The move comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) halts the ongoing delimitation process under the old law, directing the provincial authorities to draft and submit fresh rules before local government elections can proceed.
Under the new law, local body elections will be held on a non-party basis, marking a significant departure from past electoral practices. Candidates will now contest independently, with the option to align with a political party only after the elections. The act also introduces new Local Government and Finance Commissions, empowering provincial authorities to oversee administrative and fiscal matters at the district level.
One of the most controversial features is the rotational tenure system, which will see district and tehsil heads alternate positions every four months — a clause critics argue could disrupt administrative continuity and weaken local governance. Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have slammed the legislation, calling it an attempt to undermine constitutional devolution under Article 140-A.
The ECP has granted the Punjab government a strict four-week window to complete the demarcation and delimitation process under the new framework. Failure to meet the deadline could invite direct intervention from the Commission, potentially delaying the long-overdue local government elections even further.
With the province yet to hold fresh local polls since 2015, political observers warn that the new law may either revive long-stalled democratic structures or further centralize administrative control in the hands of the provincial elite. The next few weeks will prove critical in determining whether the government’s reform is a step toward empowerment or another bureaucratic reshuffle.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.