Rawalpindi finalises new UC structure under revised local govt setup

RAWALPINDI: Authorities have completed and officially published the delimitation of Union Councils in Rawalpindi under the new local government system, under which each UC has been formed around an average population of about 25,000 people.

The District Election Commission Rawalpindi has invited objections and suggestions from political parties, party workers, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and members of the legal fraternity. According to the published schedule, objections to the new delimitations can be filed until June 23.

Urban and district structure revised

Under the revised arrangement, Rawalpindi city has been split into two municipal local government jurisdictions. The district has also seen the creation of two new tehsils, a change that has increased the overall number of Union Councils.

According to the new boundaries, eight UCs have been cut from the urban areas of Rawalpindi and Potohar. In Rawal Municipal Town, the number of UCs has been reduced from 46 to 41, while in Potohar Municipal Town it has fallen from 36 to 33.

Under the new local government framework, Rawalpindi district has been reorganised into 17 local government units. These include two municipal town corporations, five municipal committees, six tehsil councils and four cantonment boards. The restructuring adds two new tehsil councils and one new municipal committee, while the former District Council Rawalpindi has been dissolved.

New administrative units created

The city has now been divided into four administrative segments made up of two municipal towns and two tehsil councils. Under this structure, Rawalpindi will have two mayors and four deputy mayors, with urban governance to be shared between Rawal Municipal Town and Potohar Municipal Town.

A new Tehsil Council Sadar has been established in Rawalpindi district with 22 Union Councils. Another new urban administrative unit, Tehsil Council Cantonment Rawalpindi, has been created with 29 Union Councils.

Following the latest delimitation, the total number of Union Councils in Rawalpindi city has increased from 82 to 125. The area previously falling under the dissolved District Council Rawalpindi has been redistributed among six tehsil councils.

Previously, Rawalpindi district had five cantonment boards. After Murree was made a separate district, that number has been reduced to four.