Punjab likely to hold LG polls in September this year

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 05 Jan 2023

LAHORE: The Punjab government has taken a major decision for holding local government (LG) elections by hinting to organize the polls in September this year, citing sources.

The provincial government gave the date of LG elections to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat told the election commission to hold LG polls in September this year.

During the first phase of LG polls, elections will be organized in village councils of the province. Moreover, the authorities have decided to reduce the number of village councils from 25,000 to 8,000, sources said.

Raja Basharat said in a statement that the Punjab government will ensure the process of LG polls in phases.

Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired an important session regarding the LG elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The session was attended by all four members and ECP secretary to review the preparations of LG polls in Punjab and KP.

A briefing will be given to the participants of the meeting by law and local wing officials of ECP.

The spread of coronavirus pandemic is being termed as the reason for a delay in the organisation of local government elections in the provinces.

Balochistan government had gotten a stay from the court regarding the LG polls, whereas, the final decision for going ahead to hold LG elections in Sindh was pending due to reservations on the census.