Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Elections Set for August 2 After Years-Long Delay, CEC Announces

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced on Wednesday that the region’s overdue local government elections will be held on August 2.

Originally scheduled for January 24, 2026, along with general elections for the legislative assembly, both votes were postponed indefinitely in February due to severe weather conditions. The local government polls had initially been planned for February 14, 2026.

The polls will be conducted for union councils, district councils, town committees, municipal committees, and municipal corporations. The last local body election in the region took place in 2004, marking a 22-year gap.

“Delimitation and demarcation have been completed under the Local Government Act of 2014,” Khan stated.

He explained that the previous system included local district councils, union councils, and municipal committees in urban areas. The new structure replaces these with town committees, municipal committees, and municipal corporations in urban regions.

Political parties had initially doubted elections could occur before June and worried they might be delayed until October. However, since holding elections during Muharram (which begins around June 15-16) or other religious observances like Chehlum is not feasible, leaders indicated the August timeline appears more realistic.

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