LAHORE – The Punjab government has officially allocated Rs5 billion in its 2025–26 budget to conduct long-awaited local body elections, aiming to restore grassroots democracy across the province.
According to official sources, the allocated funds will cover all necessary arrangements for the electoral process, which is expected to take place during the upcoming fiscal year. This move reflects the government’s intent to revive local governance structures after a significant delay.
Punjab’s Minister for Local Government, Zeeshan Rafiq, confirmed that legislation related to local bodies will be finalized by July. He emphasized that the government is determined to proceed quickly and ensure fair and transparent elections.
“We want to hold the local body elections as soon as possible,” Rafiq stated, stressing the importance of empowering communities and improving public service delivery through locally elected representatives.
This budgetary decision comes at a time when public demand for local representation and efficient municipal governance is growing stronger. Many hope that elected local bodies will help address civic issues more effectively.
Moving forward, the government plans to engage with the Election Commission of Pakistan to coordinate timelines, voter lists, and security arrangements, ensuring that the process is smooth and widely accepted.