Local Government Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan Scheduled for December 5, Election Schedule Announced

*GILGIT:* Local government elections for the municipal corporations of Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas will be held on December 5, 2026, in the first phase, while elections for district councils, municipal committees and union councils will take place in April 2027.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced the revised election schedule during a press conference at the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission Secretariat on October 15. He said the local government elections would be conducted following necessary amendments to the Local Government Act.

According to the chief election commissioner, direct voting will be held for 42 general seats in Gilgit Municipal Corporation, 21 in Skardu Municipal Corporation and 13 in Chilas Municipal Corporation. The elected representatives will subsequently choose the mayors and deputy mayors of their respective municipal corporations.

Raja Shahbaz Khan said the amended law had reduced the number of categories of local government institutions from seven to four. These include district councils, union councils, municipal committees and municipal corporations. Under the revised system, independent candidates will also be eligible to contest the elections.

He said 17 per cent of the seats in local government institutions had been reserved for women. Reserved seats have also been allocated to women, youth, non-Muslims and persons with disabilities to ensure representation of different segments of society in local governance.

The chief election commissioner said elections for district councils, municipal committees and union councils in the remaining districts and areas would be held in April 2027. Weather conditions, including snowfall, have also been taken into consideration while planning the electoral process in these areas.

Local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan are being held after a gap of more than two decades. The electoral process had previously faced delays due to severe weather, administrative issues and amendments to the Local Government Act.