It is observed that power relations, which form political, economic, social and cultural environment, hinder women’s full participation in all these fields. Politics is one of those fields where gender inequality has gained global attention. From voters to elected members, women are under-represented and this occurred not due to lack of abilities, but the prevailing environment of political discrimination and cultural barriers denied women right of equal participation even in democratic governments. For More information visit our website www.pakvoter.org/wie/ #women #representation #localgovermentpakistan #womeninelection #womenempowerment #womenpoliticalleader

1. WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN
WWW.PAKVOTER.ORG/WIE

2. INTRODUCTION
 It is observed that power relations, which form political, economic, social and cultural environment, hinder
women’s full participation in all these fields. Politics is one of those fields where gender inequality has gained
global attention. From voters to elected members, women are under-represented and this occurred not due to
lack of abilities, but the prevailing environment of political discrimination and cultural barriers denied women
right of equal participation even in democratic governments.

3. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN
 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan provides protection for the rights of its citizens among which
is equality of political rights for men and women in terms of voting and contesting all elective offices. Constitution
guarantees equality of all citizens before the law and forbids discrimination on the basis of sex alone, yet provides
space for affirmative action by the State for women. Article 34 of the constitution of Pakistan states that steps will be
taken to ensure the full participation of women in all spheres of national life.

4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
 In year 2000, a remarkable development took place, when the Devolution Plan 2000 redesigned the political
landscape of Pakistan, especially at the grass root level through a reformatory policy intervention under Local
Government Order (LGO). This reorientation of Local government politics provided 33% reservation of seats for
women through a combination of direct and indirect elections.

5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
 After the 18th Constitutional amendment, provincial governments were responsible to establish a local
government system and devolve political, administrative, and financial responsibility and authority to the elected
representatives of the local governments. The current local government laws in each province hold provisions
related to women participation in grass root level.

6. ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
Below mentioned short analysis of current local government laws is aimed to compile the provisions related to
women participation in electoral process at grassroot level.
Category Punjab Local Government Act
2019
KP Local Government Act 2013 Sindh Local Government Act
2013
Balochistan Local Government
Act 2010
Seat Reserved for women Part A – Urban Local
Governments: 53 (14%)
Part B – Tehsil Councils: 33
(14%)
District Council: 342
Tehsil Councils: 349
(Different number of seats
reserved in each district
council)
District Municipal Corporation:
22%
Metropolitan Corporation:
22%
District Council: 22%
Municipal Corporation: 22%
Municipal Committees: 22%
District Councils: 33%
Union Councils: 33%
Municipal Committees: 33%
Municipal Corporation: 33%
Metropolitan Corporation:
33%

7. ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
Category Punjab Local Government Act
2019
KP Local Government Act 2013 Sindh Local Government Act
2013
Balochistan Local Government
Act 2010
Sections pertaining to women
political participation
Section 83, subsection (6) In
addition to the candidate for
the office of the head of the
local government, a political
party or an electoral group shall
field at least as many qualified
candidates for election as there
are seats of general councillors
and seats reserved for women,
religious minorities, peasants
and workers
Section 74, subsection (4)
(4) Members to fill seats
reserved for women, peasants
and workers, youth and non-
muslims in the tehsil council
and district council shall be
elected through proportional
representation system of
political parties‟ list of
candidates on the basis of the
total number of general seats
secured by each political party
in the respective local council.
Under Section 9 of the Act
each administrative unit
provides full opportunity to
women to participate in
political activity and be elected
either on general seat or
reserved one
Each administrative unit
provides full opportunity to
participate in political activity
and be elected either on
general seat or reserved one

8. ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
Category Punjab Local Government Act 2019 KP Local Government Act 2013 Sindh Local Government
Act 2013
Balochistan Local Government Act
2010
Special
representatio
n in
administrativ
e committees
Section 20:
Representation of councilors in the councils.–
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall
prevent a woman or a person belonging to a
religious minority or other special interest group
from being a candidate for or elected to a general
seat.
Section 174, Establishment of Local Government
Finance Commission,
subsection (g) Four experts, out of whom one shall
be a woman, on local governments and local
government finance appointed in terms of section
174 of this Act
Section 238, Chairperson and members of the
Commission, subsection (e) Four expert members,
including one woman, appointed in terms of section
241 of this Act
27. Composition of Village
Council and Neighbourhood
Council.
Sub section (b) two members
elected to seats reserved for
women;
Section 54, Local Government
Commission, subsection (c) two
eminently qualified and
experienced
technocrats including a woman
selected by Government for a
period of three years
One woman, as a woman
representative of women,
to be part of administrative
committee of each
administrative unit (Union
Council, Union Committee
and Town Committee)
Section 81, Constitution of Musalihat
Anjuman.- (1) In each Union, a
Musalihat Anjuman shall
be constituted consisting of a panel of
three members including at least one
woman member one
of whom shall be its Convener.
Section 130. Divisional Coordination
Committee.
(b) One representative each of the
special interest groups, viz. peasants,
workers and women to be elected in
the prescribed manner, by the elected
members belonging to the respective
groups in various Local Councils
within a Division.

9. ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
Category Punjab Local
Government
Act 2019
KP Local
Government Act
2013
Sindh Local Government Act 2013 Balochistan Local Government Act 2010
Sections
related to
Women
Welfare
N/A N/A Section 4, Health and maternity centers, subsection
(a). establish, manage, maintain, or contribute towards the
maintenance of health centers, maternity centers, and centers
for the welfare of women, infants and children;
( c ). adopt such other matters as may be necessary to promote
the health and welfare of women, infants and children.
Section 63 of the Act: Social Welfare
(e) adopt such measures as may be prescribed for the
promotion of the welfare of backward classes, and destitute
women and children;
Sub Section 56 (Public Health)
Establishment, management, maintenance and inspection of
Health Centers, Maternity Centers and centers for the welfare of
infants and children, the training of dais, midwives and the
adoption of other measures likely to promote the health and
welfare of women, infants and children.
Optional Functions.
(Public Health)
(1). To establish, maintain or manage or contribute
towards the health centres, maternity centres for the
welfare of women, infants and children.
social welfare Rural Councils.
41. To adopt such measures as may be prescribed for
the promotion of welfare of backward classes, families
of the persons serving in Armed Forces and Women
and children.
Public Health
(9) establishment, management and visting of health
centres, maternity centres, and centres for the welfare
of infants and children, training of Dais and adoption of
other measures likely to promote health and welfare of
women, infant and children