TODAY’S PAPER | October 20, 2026 | EPAPER

Punjab completes local govt delimitation

10 town corporations proposed for Lahore


Imran Adnan August 28, 2026 1 min read

LAHORE:

Delimitation for Punjab's new local government system has been completed, paving the way for the formation of town and municipal corporations, municipal committees and tehsil councils.

The new framework under the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 is being introduced as the province prepares for long-delayed elections. Thee Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has agreed in principle to hold the polls between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027.

Under the new system, the existing metropolitan corporation, district council and union council ward structures are being replaced with a population-based local government setup.

Town corporations will be established in cities with populations of 700,000 or more under Section 7 of the act. Municipal corporations will cover cities with populations exceeding 200,000, while municipal committees will be established in urban areas with populations between 25,000 and 200,000.

Tehsil councils will be established in rural areas, including portions of semi-urban areas with larger cities.

Based on population, town corporations are proposed for 13 major cities, while tehsil councils will be formed in other districts.

Lahore will have 10 town corporations according to documents. Each town corporation will have a mayor and two deputy mayors under Section 17 of the act, with a deputy mayor also serving as speaker of the town assembly.

The new structure will also give UC chairpersons representation in town corporations as general members. Reserved seats will be allocated for women, non-Muslims, farmers, labourers, technocrats, youth and persons with disabilities.

At the UC level, Section 15 provides for a 13-member house comprising nine elected councillors along with reserved representation for women, youth, labour and minorities.

The population of each union council has been fixed between 22,000 and 31,000 under the new law. The previous 2022 legislation did not prescribe a population ratio for the councils.

The chairperson of a UC will be voted in by the elected councillors.

Lahore will have 10 mayors and 20 deputy mayors under the proposed system. The local government polls will be held on a non-party basis.

COMMENTS (2)

Sameer Ahmad | 1 month ago | Reply Only a spoof to off ramp establishments plan of division based provinces. These local governments will never be implemented The people sitting in the Provincial assemblies will make sure of that. It needs to be constitutionally ammended in the National Assembly this is not a subject of provinces whether to allow or not allow a local government it is a subject of National Intrest in an ideal democracy there are always three tiers of government that is 1.National Federal Govt. 2.Provincial State Govt. 3.Local Govt. Grass root Govt. . Amend the law demanding local govt. In the constitution define it write chapters on how and what will it be write these so called sections in the constitution and make it a Federal or National subject instead of a Provincial one. Only then governance can be improved in all of Pakistan.
Muhammad Javed | 1 month ago | Reply Based on previous experiences I strongly believe it will never happen or mature. Identify people who are enjoying the non-existing of local bodies and you will believe like me.
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