LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly approved the Local Government Bill 2025 on Monday, despite persistent protests and disruptions from opposition members. All proposed amendments from the opposition were rejected, and the bill was passed by a majority vote amid chaos and vocal protests.
The session, led by Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Chanar, was marred by repeated interruptions as opposition lawmakers shouted slogans and threw copies of the draft legislation into the air. The acting speaker appealed for order, stating, “The bill has been passed. Now, please sit down and let’s proceed.”
Opposition members strongly opposed the timing of the bill’s approval, calling for the session to be postponed due to the ongoing violence and unrest caused by TLP protests in various parts of Punjab. Moin Riaz Qureshi, the Opposition Leader, urged the government to delay the proceedings, citing the fragile law and order situation in the province as reason enough to defer legislative business.
Despite these appeals, the government proceeded with the passage of the bill, leading to a sustained protest from opposition members who vociferously voiced their objections throughout the session.The Local Government Bill 2025 introduces significant reforms to Punjab’s administrative structure. Under the new legislation, town corporations will be established in regions with populations exceeding 700,000 residents.
Furthermore, Union Councils (UCs) are granted the authority to prepare and approve their own budgets, as well as to collect local fines and taxes, thereby increasing their financial independence. The government states that these reforms are aimed at empowering local governance, promoting grassroots democracy, and decentralizing authority for better service delivery.
Supporters from the treasury benches defended the legislation, asserting that it is essential for improving governance and accountability at the local level. Despite opposition opposition and calls for delays, the acting speaker allowed the bill to be passed, marking a crucial step in Punjab’s local government reforms.
Following the approval, the provincial administration will initiate the process of setting up new local bodies and administrative units. The rollout of these changes is expected to occur gradually once the law is officially enacted.
