The Balochistan government has formally notified the dissolution of all local government institutions across the province with effect from February 8, 2027, following the completion of their constitutional term.

According to a notification issued by the Local Government, Rural Development and Agrovilles Department on July 9, the offices of chairmen, vice chairmen and members of municipal corporations, municipal committees, district councils and union councils in Balochistan will cease to exist from that date.

The notification, signed by Local Government Department Secretary Abdul Rauf Baloch, states that the decision was taken by the provincial cabinet at its meeting held on June 12, 2026, under Section 26 of the Balochistan Local Government Act 2010. It will be published in the next issue of the Balochistan Gazette.

The move sets the stage for fresh local government elections in the province. At the June cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial government decided that all matters relating to the next local body polls, including the creation of new districts, fresh delimitation of constituencies and relevant court rulings, would be placed before the Election Commission of Pakistan before the electoral process begins.

The cabinet also decided that the next local body elections in Quetta would not be held in phases. Instead, polls in the provincial capital are to be conducted simultaneously with elections in all other districts of Balochistan.

Under the law, the Election Commission of Pakistan is required to hold local government elections within 120 days of the expiry of the councils' term. Balochistan has previously seen lengthy delays between the dissolution of local bodies and the holding of new polls, leaving districts without elected local representatives for extended periods.

Copies of the notification have been forwarded to the offices of the governor, the chief minister, the provincial election commissioner and other senior officials.