Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly passes amended Local Government Act 2026: mayors for Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas, 17% seats for women

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Wednesday passed the amended GB Local Government Act 2026 by majority vote, clearing the way for the region's first local body elections in more than 20 years, Dawn reported. Deputy Speaker Malik Kifayatur Rehman declared it passed after opposition members asked for more time to study the revised draft.

What the act sets up

• Municipal corporations in Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas, whose elected members will choose a mayor and deputy mayor.
• Union councils and district councils in every district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
• A 17% quota for women in all local bodies.

Why it came back to the assembly

The assembly had passed the act once already, but Governor Syed Mehdi Shah returned it, objecting to several clauses. Local Bodies Minister Zulfiqar Ali Murad said the bill was reintroduced only after those objections were addressed and the GB cabinet approved the revised text.

When the election could be

No date yet. Officials say the election date will be announced after the governor signs the amended bill into law. Earlier this year Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan had scheduled polls for 2 August under the old 2014 law, while the chief minister wanted them held under the new act; the commission then postponed them.

For residents, elected councils would mean local representatives in charge of things like water supply, sanitation, streets and markets, which are now run by bureaucrats.

GB IT Board

The assembly also unanimously passed a bill creating a Gilgit-Baltistan Information Technology Board, chaired by the chief minister. Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate said it would tackle long-standing internet and telecom problems, move tendering and tax collection online, set up IT parks and invite foreign investors. Slow and patchy mobile internet is one of the region's oldest complaints; if you are checking which network works in your area, see our mobile packages comparison.