• Clears path for local bodies polls delayed for over two decades; election date to be announced after governor’s assent; municipal corporations set up in Gilgit, Skardu, and Chilas; 17pc quota reserved for women
• House also approves bill to establish GB Information Technology Board

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Asse­­mbly on Wednesday cleared the way for the region’s first local bodies elections in over two decades by passing the amended GB Local Government Act 2026, while also approving a separate bill to establish an Information Technology Board.

During a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Malik Kifayatur Rehman, the assembly first approved the amended GB Local Government Act 2026 by a majority vote. The legislation aims to hold local bodies elections that have not been conducted in the region for more than 20 years.

Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Local Bodies Zulfiqar Ali Murad introduced the amended draft in the House to seek its passage.

Although the assembly had previously passed the act with a majority, GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah returned the bill for reconsideration after raising objections to several points.

Opposition members raised objections when the amended bill was tabled, asking the treasury benches for more time to study and consider the draft. However, the majority of the assembly members favoured the bill, and Deputy Speaker Rehman announced its passage over the opposition’s dissent.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Mr Murad stated that the act was reintroduced only after the governor’s objections were removed and the revised draft was approved by the GB Cabinet.

Under the new act, municipal corporations have been established in the cities of Chilas, Gilgit and Skardu, where elected members will choose mayors and deputy mayors.

Additionally, union councils and district councils have been established across all districts, with a 17pc quota allocated for women in all local bodies. The passage of the bill follows months of administrative deadlock over local polls.

The dispute emerged after Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan unilaterally scheduled elections for Aug 2, causing friction with the chief minister, who was not consulted.

The chief minister insisted on conducting the elections under a new 2026 act, while the election commissioner intended to use the previous 2014 act. The election commission subsequently postponed the polls.

Official sources state that a new election date will be announced once the governor signs the amended bill into law.

Separately, the bill to establish the GB Information Technology Board was unanimously approved. Under the legislation, the chief minister will serve as the board’s chairman, while a minister or adviser will act as its vice chairman.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate said the board is being established to address long-standing information technology and telecommunications issues and to upgrade internet connectivity faced by residents across the region.

The chief minister told the assembly that governance, tendering, tax collection and other departmental functions are being shifted online.

“The board will invite foreign investors, bring stakeholders to GB from other provinces, and establish IT parks and other facilities for locals, particularly the youth, to ensure their easy and high-speed access to the internet,” CM Hussain said, adding that the board will be inaugurated by the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026