Local government elections in GB announced after 22 years, polling set for August 2

WEB DESK: The long-awaited local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have been formally announced, with polling scheduled for August 2 after a gap of 22 years.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced the schedule on Wednesday, stating that the elections would be held across the region to strengthen local governance and democratic representation.

He said nomination papers for candidates would be submitted between June 9 and June 15. Khan, who holds the Tamgha-e-Shujaat award, described the announcement as a major milestone for democratic decentralisation in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The election commission said preparations were underway to ensure transparent, fair and lawful elections across all districts of the region.

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Local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have not been held since 2004. The revival of the electoral process has been widely viewed as an important development for improving grassroots representation and administrative efficiency in the mountainous region.

Political stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, saying it could help strengthen local institutions and address governance challenges at the community level.