Punjab’s proposed local govt law sets out wider powers for Union Councils

LAHORE: A proposed Local Government Act 2025 seeks to introduce a new local government structure across Punjab with greater authority devolved to the grassroots level, according to details of the draft legislation.

Under the proposed framework, local government institutions would include Town Corporations, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Committees, Tehsil Councils and Union Councils. The draft law is aimed at enabling public issues to be addressed within local communities through an expanded role for local bodies.

Union Council composition and elections

Each Union Council would have 13 members. These would include nine general members, or councillors, elected directly by voters, along with four members chosen on reserved seats. The reserved categories would consist of one woman, one farmer or labour representative, one youth representative and one non-Muslim representative.

The proposed law states that a Union Council chairman and vice chairman would be elected from within the council. General councillors and the members elected on reserved seats would jointly elect the chairman and vice chairman through a show-of-hands vote, while both offices would be contested as a joint ticket.

For the election of the nine general councillors, each Union Council would function as a single multi-member ward. Every voter would cast one vote through secret balloting, and the nine candidates receiving the highest number of votes would be declared elected. The members on reserved seats would then be elected by the general councillors through a show-of-hands procedure.

Eligibility and disqualification criteria

To run for the office of councillor, a candidate would need to be registered on the electoral roll and be at least 21 years old. A candidate for chairman or vice chairman would have to be at least 25 years of age, while a candidate for the youth seat would need to be between 18 and 32 years old.

The draft law would bar a range of individuals from contesting. These include people convicted of corruption or offences involving moral turpitude, serving government employees, bank loan defaulters, major defaulters of electricity, gas, water or tax dues, those who submit false declarations and persons holding dual political offices.

Administrative and development functions

The proposed legislation gives Union Councils broad administrative and municipal responsibilities. These include approving local budgets, imposing and collecting taxes, fees, fines and other charges, and keeping records of births, deaths, marriages and divorces.

Union Councils would also be authorised to carry out small-scale development works such as the construction and upkeep of streets, drainage networks, water supply schemes and sanitation facilities. Their responsibilities would further include maintaining hand pumps, wells, water tanks and other local water sources.

In addition, the councils would assist higher levels of local government in sewerage, sanitation and waste management work. They would also be tasked with helping remove encroachments from public roads and shared spaces, promoting local sports, fairs and cultural activities, and taking part in relief efforts during floods, earthquakes, epidemics and other emergencies.