ISLAMABAD, July 31: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday directed the Islamabad administration and Capital Development Authority (CDA) to start preparations for the local government (LG) elections.

Presiding over a meeting, he said local bodies elections would be held as per directions of the Supreme Court.

It may be recalled that on July 22, the apex court had ordered holding of local bodies polls in the country by September 15.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has demanded immediate enactment of the local government law in each province.

NCSW Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz in a statement said the experience of women representation in the local government demonstrated that the presence of women in different tiers of LG system was a key element in their political mainstreaming.

The NCSW recommended that there should be no rollback from the 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in all tiers of local government. The seats may be increased but not decreased.

It said a quota for women in the reserved seats for farmers, workers and non-Muslims was provided but members should be directly elected.

The NCSW also proposed that the LG polls should be party-based. — A Reporter