Preparations for local government elections in Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have entered a key phase after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released the delimitation schedule.
According to the ECP, the delimitation process in Islamabad will formally begin on August 1, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on October 13, 2026, paving the way for the next stage of the local government elections.
In Punjab, the Election Commission stated that after hearing objections, the final delimitation will be published on August 17, 2026. Following its publication, the commission will consult the Punjab government to determine the date for the local government elections.
According to the ECP, the delimitation process has already been completed in 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the provincial government has amended the Local Government Act by increasing the population threshold for local councils from 30,000 to 40,000.
The provincial government has also requested a three-week extension from the Election Commission to make further amendments to Schedule 9. The Election Commission said it is fully prepared to conduct local government elections in the federal capital, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The commission reiterated that under Article 140A of the Constitution and Section 219 of the Elections Act, it is constitutionally bound to hold local government elections within 120 days.
The ECP also expressed concern over the repeated practice of federal and provincial governments introducing amendments to local government laws shortly before elections. It noted that its proposal for timely amendments to local government legislation was rejected by the government. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs maintained that only Parliament has the authority to enact or amend laws.
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