Punjab dissolves local bodies

58,000 LB representatives sent packing

LAHORE: Around 58,000 local bodies representatives in Punjab were sent packing on Saturday after the governor signed the Punjab Local Government Bill 2019.

According to a government notification, the former local bodies system now stands abolished. Lists are being prepared for the posting of commissioners and deputy commissioners as administrators. The names are expected to be announced in a few days.

The Punjab government will conduct fresh local government elections within a year.



Until then, 27 districts of the province will have deputy commissioners working as administrators. Nine divisions will have commissioners performing these duties.

Under the new bill, the new municipal system will consist of two categories which include municipal and mohalla councils in urban areas, and tehsil and village councils in rural areas.

After the notification was issued, local bodies representatives started leaving their offices.

A petition was recently filed with the Lahore High Court challenging the dissolution of the local governments under the new law.

The petitioner stated that the representatives would lose their positions if the local bodies were dissolved.