Punjab Local Government Elections Agreed in Principle for December 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027
Provincial Government Proposes Phased Polling; Election Commission to Review Detailed Plan
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has agreed in principle to hold local government elections in Punjab between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027.
According to a statement issued after an important ECP meeting on the local government elections in Punjab, the provincial government proposed holding the elections during the specified period, and the commission agreed to the proposal in principle.
The Punjab government wants to conduct the local government elections in phases to ensure foolproof security and better administrative arrangements throughout the electoral process.
The delimitation process for the local government elections in Punjab has already been completed. However, consultations with the provincial government are continuing before the final election schedule is formally announced.
Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq briefed the ECP, saying Chief Minister Punjab was fully committed to ensuring transparent and timely local government elections and had authorised the committee established for the purpose to hold consultations with the Election Commission.
He said the provincial government required sufficient time to initiate the electoral process and arrange the necessary funds and resources.
According to the minister, the period between December 15 and January 15 would be the most suitable for holding the elections because school examinations would have been completed, teaching staff would be available for election duties, and severe fog-related difficulties were less likely during the proposed period.
The Election Commission welcomed the provincial government’s proposals and directed it to submit a final and comprehensive plan for conducting the elections in phases as soon as possible.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said timely local government elections were a constitutional requirement. He noted that under Article 140-A of the Constitution, holding local government elections was a fundamental responsibility of both the Election Commission and the provincial government.
The ECP said consultations with the Punjab government would continue and that the detailed phased election plan submitted by the provincial government would be thoroughly reviewed before deciding the next course of action.
