Stakeholders urge timely local government elections in Punjab

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2026) Participants at a multi-stakeholder consultation on Sunday called for timely local government elections in Punjab in accordance with Article 140-A of the Constitution, stressing that empowered local governments are essential for democratic continuity, effective service delivery and citizen participation.

The advocacy panel, titled “Ensuring Timely Local Government Elections and Strengthening Constitutional Local Governance in Punjab,” was organized by HomeNet Pakistan in collaboration with Awaz Foundation, said a press release issued here.

It brought together Members of the Provincial Assembly, government representatives, legal and governance experts, civil society organizations, academia, media professionals and other stakeholders.

Opening the session, HomeNet Pakistan Executive Director Ume Laila Azhar said strong local governments served as the closest link between citizens and public institutions, adding that timely local government elections were essential for transparency, accountability, inclusive governance and effective public service delivery.

Participants appreciated governance and development initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and expressed hope that her administration would further strengthen democratic institutions by supporting transparent, accountable and empowered local governance.

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During the panel discussion, MPA Fatima Begum stressed political commitment to democratic decentralization and timely elections, while governance expert Tauqir Sadiq highlighted constitutional obligations under Article 140-A and emphasized the need to protect devolved political, administrative and financial powers through transparent legal processes.

Other speakers, including Zahid islam, called for greater political, administrative and fiscal autonomy for local governments to improve service delivery and development planning.

Nabila Shaheen underscored the importance of meaningful participation of women, persons with disabilities, transgender persons, youth and marginalized communities in local decision-making, while journalist Asim Shahzad highlighted the media’s role in promoting civic awareness and institutional accountability.

During an interactive session moderated by Irfan Mufti, participants identified delayed elections, weak decentralization, limited fiscal autonomy, centralized decision-making and reduced citizen access to elected representatives as key challenges to effective local governance.

The consultation concluded with remarks by Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) General Manager Masood Tamanna, who appreciated the contributions of participants and reaffirmed the importance of collective efforts to promote democratic, inclusive and accountable local governance in Punjab.