Sindh Assembly Introduces Local Government Amendment Bill, Special Committee Formed

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly has introduced the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2026 and referred it to a special parliamentary committee, which has been tasked with examining the legislation and submitting its report to the house within one week.

A key proposed amendment provides that outgoing mayors and chairmen will continue to exercise the powers and perform the functions of their councils as administrators after the expiry of their terms until newly elected heads assume office.

Under the proposed amendment, the government would be required to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan 120 days before the expiry of a council’s term to hold fresh local government elections, with the elections proposed to be held within 120 days.

The bill also proposes empowering the government to assign the duties of a deputy mayor or vice chairman to another council member if the officeholder is absent from Pakistan or unable to perform the functions of the office.

Another major proposal is the establishment of Reconciliation Forums in every union council, union committee, town committee and municipal committee. Each forum would comprise three conciliators nominated by the council from among local residents known for integrity, sound judgment and good standing.

The forums would seek to settle local disputes amicably according to prescribed procedures. Conciliators would serve for the term of the council and could be removed for consistent partiality or malpractice.

The proposed amendments would also assign union councils responsibility for identifying solid waste management issues, building control violations and unauthorised constructions within their jurisdictions and sharing information with relevant authorities for necessary action.

The bill further proposes allowing councils to establish institutions independently or through public-private partnerships. Detailed maps of public service infrastructure would also be added to relevant documents.

The Speaker referred the bill to the special committee, which has been directed to submit its report within a week.