KARACHI, Feb. 8: With the publication of initial revised electoral rolls in nine districts of Sindh, preparations have begun for holding new local bodies polls in April.

The local bodies elections, to be held in phases, will be conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan. A schedule is likely to be announced next month, the commission sources said.

In the first phase, elections will be held in 30 districts of the country whose revised electoral lists were notified for inviting objections. The last date for representation, if any, has been fixed as Feb 17.

The districts in which elections are planned in the first phase are: Sindh: Larkana, Shadadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparkar, and Sanghar.

PUNJAB: Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, D.G. Khan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, and Rajanpur.

NWFP: Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, DI Khan, Mardan and Swabi.

Balochistan: Sibi, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Kech, Panjgur and Gwadar.