# GB local government elections: Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas municipal polls on 5 December, nominations 26 to 29 October

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/politics/gb-local-government-elections-gilgit-skardu-and-chilas-municipal-polls-on-5)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 15 Oct 2026
Updated: 15 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 16 Oct 2026

> District councils, municipal committees and union councils in Gilgit-Baltistan vote later, in April 2027, because of snow in seven districts.

**Gilgit-Baltistan will hold the first phase of its local government elections on Saturday 5 December 2026**, for municipal corporation seats in **Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas**, GB Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced at a press conference at the GB Election Commission Secretariat on Thursday 15 October, [Dawn reported](https://www.dawn.com/news/2037363/gb-lg-polls-elections-for-municipal-corporation-seats-in-chilas-skardu-gilgit-to-be-held-on-dec-5).

## GB local government election schedule

| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Public notice | 24 October 2026 |
| Nomination papers filed | 26 to 29 October 2026 |
| Polling, municipal corporations (Gilgit, Skardu, Chilas) | 5 December 2026 |
| Polling, district councils, municipal committees, union councils | April 2027 |

Dates for scrutiny of nomination papers and withdrawal of candidacies had not been published at the time of writing; they will appear in the formal schedule.

## Why the rest waits for April

The commission said harsh weather and snowfall in seven districts, **Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Astore, Kharmang, Ghanche and Shigar**, and in other remote areas made a winter poll impractical, so district councils, municipal committees and union councils will vote in April 2027.

## How it fits together

The polls follow the amended **Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Act 2026**, passed by the GB Assembly this week, which created elected mayors for the three cities now going to the polls. Our earlier report: [GB Assembly passes amended Local Government Act 2026](/news/politics/gilgit-baltistan-assembly-passes-amended-local-government-act-2026-mayors-for).

In Punjab, by contrast, the Election Commission of Pakistan has just rejected the province's request to push its local polls to April 2027: [ECP rejects Punjab's April 2027 plan](/news/politics/punjab-local-government-elections-ecp-rejects-april-2027-plan-orders-schedule).

## If you want to stand or vote

- Candidates file nomination papers from **26 to 29 October** with the returning officer for their ward; collect the form and the fee details from the GB Election Commission or the returning officer once the public notice is issued on 24 October.
- Voters should check their registration by sending their CNIC number to 8300 and make sure their CNIC is valid before polling day; the [NADRA fee calculator](/tools/government/nadra-fee-calculator) shows renewal costs.
- December in Skardu and Gilgit is cold: polling stations in the three cities are expected to run on the usual daytime hours, which the commission will confirm in its notification.

## Frequently asked questions

**When are the GB local government elections?**

Municipal corporation seats in Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas vote on 5 December 2026. District councils, municipal committees and union councils vote in April 2027.

**When can candidates file nomination papers?**

From 26 to 29 October 2026, after the public notice on 24 October.

## Sources

- GB LG polls: Elections for municipal corporation seats in Chilas, Skardu, Gilgit to be held on Dec 5 (15 Oct 2026) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2037363/gb-lg-polls-elections-for-municipal-corporation-seats-in-chilas-skardu-gilgit-to-be-held-on-dec-5

How to cite: "GB local government elections: Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas municipal polls on 5 December, nominations 26 to 29 October", Searchable, 15 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/politics/gb-local-government-elections-gilgit-skardu-and-chilas-municipal-polls-on-5