GILGIT-BALTISTAN (Dunya News) – The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan has formally released the schedule for long-delayed local government elections, confirming polling will be held on 2 August 2026.
According to the official announcement, nomination papers will be accepted from 9 to 15 June, marking the beginning of the electoral process after nearly twenty years without local polls in the region.
The commission stated that the initial list of candidates will be published on 16 June, followed by scrutiny of nomination papers between 17 and 22 June.
Election authorities will hear and decide appeals from 28 June to 4 July, after which a revised list of candidates will be issued on 6 July.
The deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers has been set for 7 July, while election symbols will be allotted on 8 July. Officials confirmed that the same timetable will apply to women’s reserved seats, ensuring their participation in the electoral process.
The announcement is being viewed as a significant step towards restoring grassroots democracy in the region, where local governance structures have remained largely inactive for two decades.