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

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.

GB local government election schedule

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.

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.

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 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.