Local government in Pakistan
Pakistan operates as a federal republic with a three-tiered government system: national, provincial, and local. The constitution safeguards local governance through Articles 32 and 140-A, while each province has its own legislation and ministries to facilitate local government operations. In the provinces, district councils serve as the highest authority for rural areas, while metropolitan corporations hold that status for urban regions.
Local government structures in both urban and rural settings typically consist of two or three tiers, except in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where councils are not classified as urban or rural. Across the four provinces, there are 129 district councils, 619 urban councils which include one city district, four metropolitan corporations, 13 municipal corporations, 96 municipal committees, 148 town councils, 360 urban union committees, and 1,925 rural councils. Furthermore, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is home to 3,339 councils at the neighbourhood, tehsil, and village levels.
LegislationEdit
In light of the central and provincial governments' inability to address local needs, the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) developed a local government framework outlined in the "Devolution Plan 2000." As a result, a new local governance system was put into effect on August 14, 2001, following the passage of the Local Government Ordinance, 2001 by each of the four provinces.
LevelsEdit
ProvincesEdit
The nation consists of four provinces and one federal territory: Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and the Islamabad Capital Territory, which is federally administered. Furthermore, Pakistan governs two "autonomous" territories in the contested area of PIOJK: Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. In connection with the ongoing Kashmir conflict with India, Pakistan asserts its claim over the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but has not exercised any administrative control over these regions since its creation and the subsequent war with India in 1947–1948.
DivisionsEdit
The five provinces and the capital territory of Pakistan are divided into 37 administrative "divisions". Although these divisions were eliminated in 2000, they were reinstated in 2008. It is important to note that the Islamabad Capital Territory and the now-defunct Federally Administered Tribal Areas were previously considered on par with the provinces. However, in 2018, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas were integrated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and assigned to adjacent divisions within that province.
DistrictEdit
A district (Urdu: ضلع जिला) serves as the primary level of local government in Pakistan. The country has a total of 149 districts, including several designated as city districts. The governing structure consists of a District Government or a City District Government along with a Zillah Council, with the District Coordination Officer acting as the administrative leader. Prior to 2010, the District Governor or Zila Nazim held the position of executive head for districts, but responsibilities were transferred to the District Coordination Officers at that time. Their duties resemble those of district governors, focusing on the execution of government policies and the development of related initiatives.
Tehsil / TahasīlaEdit
The Tehsil government represents the second tier of local governance within Pakistan's three-tier system. It functions by subdividing the responsibilities and authorities of district governments into smaller units known as "Tehsils". This structure is utilized throughout most of Pakistan, except in Sindh province, where the term "Taluka" is employed instead; however, the functions and authorities remain consistent. The head of the Tehsil government is referred to as the "Tehsil Nazim", who is supported by the tehsil Naib-Nazim. Each tehsil is managed by a Tehsil Municipal Administration, which includes a Tehsil Council, the Tehsil Nazim, a Tehsil/Municipal Officer (TMO), a Chief Officer, and various other officials from the local council.
Union CouncilEdit
A Union Council represents the fundamental tier of local government in Pakistan. Each Union Council is composed of a specified number of members, including a Union Administrator and a Vice Union Administrator, both of whom are elected through direct elections based on adult franchise and a joint electorate system. The Union Administrator acts as the head of the Union Council, responsible for managing the council's administration. The Chief Election Commissioner oversees the election process for Union Council members, which is conducted on a non-party basis. Candidates must be residents of the Union Council area to qualify. Elections are generally held every four years, although the exact duration may differ by province. In addition to general seats, there are reserved seats for women within the Zila Council, which are allocated proportionately among Tehsils or Towns. Elections for these reserved seats occur separately, and all members of the Union Councils within a Tehsil or Town are eligible to participate in the voting process.
The Union Council possesses a variety of powers and functions, including:
- Providing essential services such as water supply, sanitation, and road maintenance.
- Maintaining law and order within the community.
- Promoting economic development and social welfare initiatives.
- Collecting taxes and fees from residents.
- Approving budgets and development plans for the council.
Each Union Council operates with a secretariat led by a Secretary, who is tasked with the daily administration of the council and the execution of its decisions. Additionally, the Union Council has several committees that focus on specific areas such as finance, development, and social welfare. As the lowest tier of local government in Pakistan, the Union Council collaborates closely with both Tehsil and District governments to deliver services and implement development strategies. It also receives funding and support from provincial and federal governments to facilitate its functions.