GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan announced on Wednesday that the region’s long-delayed local government (LG) elections will be held on August 2.

General elections for the region’s legislative assembly were scheduled for Jan 24, 2026, while LG polls — announced after a gap of more than 20 years — were set for Feb 14. However, days after the announcement, both were postponed indefinitely.

At a press conference, the CEC said that the schedule for GB’s local body polls had been issued, and returning officers, district returning officers and assistant returning officers had been appointed.

He said a public notice would be issued by the returning officers on June 6, while nomination papers would be accepted from June 9 to 15. The elections would be held for union councils, district councils, town committees, municipal committees and municipal corporations.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2026