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Pakistan
Women in decision-making positions
17%
Members of local deliberative bodies are women (22,429 elected women)
No woman is Head of State or Government
20%
Parliamentarians are women
9%
Ministers are women

Government organization

Pakistan is a federal republic with three spheres of government: federal, intermediate (the provinces, autonomous territories, and Islamabad Capital Territory), and local.

One tier of central government, one tier of intermediate government and three or four tiers of local government.
Federal government
  • Head of State: The President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament and the members of the provincial assemblies.
  • Head of Government: The Prime Minister is elected by and from the National Assembly.
  • Legislative body: Parliament is a bicameral legislature, with an upper house (the Senate) and a lower house (the National Assembly). The Senate is composed of 26 members elected by each of the provincial assemblies and two members elected from the Federal Capital. The National Assembly is composed of members directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, is composed of federal ministers and ministers of state appointed by the President from amongst the members of Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Provincial government
  • Legislative body: The provincial assembly is a unicameral legislature whose members are directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The provincial government is composed of the governor, who is appointed by the President, and the cabinet. The cabinet consists of the chief minister, elected by and from the provincial assembly, and ministers appointed by the governor from amongst members of the provincial assembly on the advice of the chief minister.
Autonomous territory-level government
  • Legislative body: The council and the legislative assembly sit jointly as the legislative bodies of the autonomous territory. The council is composed of the governor/president of the autonomous territory, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the chief/prime minister of the autonomous territory (or a person nominated by them), 5-6 members nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and six members elected by the legislative assembly. The legislative assembly is composed of members directly elected by voters and reserved seat members.
  • Executive body: The government is composed of the chief/prime minister, who is elected by and from the legislative assembly, and ministers appointed by the prime minister (in Azad Jammu and Kashmir) or governor (in Gilgit-Baltistan) from amongst members of the legislative assembly. The president (in Azad Jammu and Kashmir) is elected by the members of the joint sitting of the legislative bodies; the governor (in Gilgit-Baltistan) is appointed by President of Pakistan, on advice of Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Islamabad Capital Territory government
  • Legislative body: The board is composed of members appointed by the federal government.
  • Executive body: The President of Pakistan, or a chief commissioner appointed by the President of Pakistan, is the executive of the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Local government
  • Organization: Local government is organized into three or four tiers. In the three-tiered system, there is an upper tier of metropolitan city, city, municipality, town, or rural district-level local government units, an intermediate tier of sub-district local government units, and a lower tier of union-level local government units. In the four-tiered system, the Metropolitan City of Karachi is organized into six metropolitan district-level local government units, sub-district-level local government units, and union-level local government units.
  • Competencies: Local government is responsible for preparing a local budget, managing a local fund, levying taxes, and possesses competencies related to public safety, trees, parks, gardens, and forests, education, culture, social welfare, development, public health, water supply, streets, animal regulations, food and drink regulations, town planning, and building control.

Overview of local government

Local government composition
Metropolitan city-level government

Deliberative body: The metropolitan corporation is composed of a mayor, a deputy mayor, the elected chairpersons of the union committees, and reserved seat members. The mayor is elected by and from the metropolitan corporation to preside over it; the mayor is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The mayor is assisted by a deputy mayor elected by and from the metropolitan corporation and a municipal commissioner.

Metropolitan district-level government

Deliberative body: The district metropolitan committee is composed of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, the vice-chairpersons of the union committees within the metropolitan district, and reserved seats. The chairperson is elected by and from the district metropolitan committee to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is assisted by a vice-chairperson elected by and from the district metropolitan committee and a municipal commissioner.

City-level government

Deliberative body: The municipal corporation is composed of the mayor, the deputy mayor, the chairpersons of the union committees of the municipal corporation, and reserved seat members. The mayor is elected by and from the municipal corporation to preside over it; the mayor is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The mayor is assisted by a vice-mayor elected by and from the municipal corporation and a municipal commissioner.

Municipalities

Deliberative body: The municipal committee is composed of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, elected members, and the reserved seat members. The chairperson is elected by and from the municipal committee to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is assisted by a vice-chairperson elected by and from the municipal committee and a chief municipal officer appointed by the Government.

Town-level government

Deliberative body: The town committee is composed of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, elected members, and reserved seat members. The chairperson is elected by and from the town committee to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is assisted by a vice-chairperson elected by and from the town committee and a town officer.

Rural district-level government

Deliberative body: The district council is composed of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, the chairpersons of all the union councils in the district, and reserved seat members. The chairperson is elected by and from the district council to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is assisted by a vice-chairperson elected by and from the district council and a chief officer.

Sub-district-level government

Deliberative body: The sub-district council is composed of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, the chairpersons of the unions in the sub-district, and reserved seat members. The chairperson is elected by and from the sub-district council to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is the executive at the sub-district level of government.

Union-level government

Deliberative body: The union committee is composed of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, elected members, and reserved seat members. The chairperson is elected by and from the union committee to preside over it; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is assisted by a vice-chairperson elected by and from the union committee and a secretary.

Local government elections
Electoral system

Electoral system for deliberative bodies: majority/plurality (first-past-the-post, block vote or single non-transferable vote) or proportional representation (closed list)

  • All local elections except in Punjab are held by a majority system. There may be single- or multi-member constituencies, and voters may have a single or multiple votes.
  • In Punjab, elections are held by closed list proportional representation.

Electoral system for executive bodies: no direct elections

  • Chairpersons and mayors and elected by and from the councils.

Sources: The Punjab Local Government Act, 2019, articles 83 and 97; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019), article 74; Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019), article 32; Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010 (amended through 2014), article 13; Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 (amended through 2016); Azad Jammu and Kashmir Local Government Act, 1990 (amended through 1995), article 16; Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Bill, 2014, article 7

Quotas

Gender quotas: Reserved seats

  • The following reserved seat quotas are legislated for local deliberative bodies:
    • Metropolitan Corporations:
      • Balochistan - 33%
      • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 33%
      • Punjab - 25 seats
      • Sindh - 22%
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
      • Islamabad Capital Territory - 33%
    • District Metropolitan Committees: 
      • Sindh - 22%
    • Municipal Corporations:
      • Balochistan - 33%
      • Punjab - max. 15 seats
      • Sindh - 22%
      • Azad Kashmir - 10%
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
    • Municipal Committees:
      • Balochistan - 33%
      • Punjab - max. 5 seats
      • Sindh - 22%
      • Azad Kashmir - 10%
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
    • Town Committees:
      • Sindh - 1 seat
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
    • District Councils:
      • Balochistan - 33%
      • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 33%
      • Punjab - max. 15 seats
      • Sindh - 22%
      • Azad Kashmir - 10%
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
    • Sub-District Councils:
      • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 33%
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
    • Union Committees:
      • Balochistan - 33%
      • Punjab - 2 seats
      • Sindh - 1 seat
      • Gilgit-Baltistan - 33%
      • Islamabad Capital Territory - 2 seats

Additional quotas: Youth, laborers/peasants, non-Muslims, technocrats

  • There are reserved seats in the local deliberative bodies for youth, laborers/peasants, and non-Muslims. In the local deliberative bodies within the Islamabad Capital Territory, there is also a reserved seat for technocrats.

Sources: Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 (amended through 2016), articles 11 and 12; Azad Jammu and Kashmir Local Government Act, 1990 (amended through 1995), articles 9, 12 and 12A; Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010 (amended through 2014), section 12; Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Bill, 2014, article 17; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019, eleventh schedule; The Punjab Local Government Act, 2019, article 20 and second schedule; Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019), article 18

Term of elections
  • Term length: 4 years
  • Last local elections: 2009 (in Gilgit-Baltistan); 2013-2015 (in Balochistan); 2015 (in Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh); 2021 (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
  • Next local elections: 2022 (Balochistan)
Electoral management body

Election Commission of Pakistan

National legal framework on local government
National legal framework
  • Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 (amended through 2018);
  • Elections Act, 2017 (amended through 2019);
  • Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 (amended through 2016);
  • Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Bill, 2014;
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019);
  • The Punjab Local Government Act, 2019;
  • Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 (amended through 2019);
  • Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010 (amended through 2014);
  • Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009;
  • Cantonment Ordinance, 2002 (amended through 2015);
  • The Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001 (amended through 2005);
  • Azad Jammu and Kashmir Local Government Act, 1990 (amended through 1995);
  • Islamabad Capital Territory Administration Order, 1980;
  • Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution Act, 1974;
  • The Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967;
  • Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960.
Constitutional provisions on local government

There are constitutional provisions that establish local government in Pakistan. According to Articles 32 and 140A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan of 1973 (amended through 2018), “the State shall encourage local Government institutions composed of elected representatives of the areas concerned and in such institutions special representation will be given to peasants, workers and women. Each Province shall, by law, establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative, and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments.”

Legislative provisions on local government

Parliament, the provincial assemblies, and the legislative assemblies of the autonomous territories are responsible for establishing the legal framework on local government. The key pieces of legislation which regulate local government are the local government acts/ordinances of the provinces, autonomous territories, and the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Sources:

1. UN Women: Data on share of women in local government as of 1 January 2023.

2. UN Women: Information on Head of State and Government as of 3 October 2023.

3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Data on share of women in the single/lower chamber of parliament as of 1 January 2023.

4. IPU and UN Women: Data on share of women in ministerial positions as of 1 January 2023.

5. Information on local government organization as of 1 January 2021.