Local government in Pakistan

Local government is protected by the constitution in Articles 32 and 140-A, and each province also has its own local-government-enabling legislation and ministries responsible for implementation.

District councils and metropolitan corporations are respectively the highest rural and urban tiers of local government in the provinces.

The divisions do not include the Islamabad Capital Territory or the defunct Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which were counted at the same level as provinces, but in 2018 the Federally Administered Tribal Areas were subsumed into Khyber-Paktunkhwa Province and allocated to neighbouring divisions therein.

Their role is similar to district governors, with responsibility for implementing government strategy and developing initiatives arising out of it.

The elections are held on a non-party basis, and candidates are required to be residents of the union council area.

The election to these reserved seats is held separately, and all members of the Union Councils in a Tehsil or Town are eligible to vote.

The Union Council also has a number of committees, which are responsible for specific areas such as finance, development, and social welfare.