Lahore: The Shah Hussain Regional Network (SHRN), a branch of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), organized a consultative meeting focusing on the proposed Punjab Local Government Bill 2025. The event gathered civil society leaders, local government experts, media professionals, and political activists to deliberate on the bill’s implications.
The meeting, convened by the Chairman of the Local Government Standing Committee, aimed to facilitate dialogue between various stakeholders. Mr. Zahid Islam, Executive Director of the Sangat Development Foundation, presented a set of consensus proposals regarding the bill.
Participants unanimously called for the immediate presentation of the Local Government Bill in the Assembly, emphasizing its alignment with Article 32 and Article 140-A of the Constitution. These articles underscore the state’s duty to establish local governments as outlined in Article 7.
The group resolved to draft detailed recommendations for each clause of the proposed bill and submit them to the Standing Committee. In response, the Chairman committed to organizing a meeting with the entire committee and representatives from civil society to further discuss the bill.
The Chairman also advocated for the continuation of such consultative meetings to ensure comprehensive stakeholder engagement in the legislative process.