Public representation at Union Councils (UCs) will be cut down by a 38 percent, reducing the number of members from 21 members to 13 members in the forthcoming local bodies elections, following the Federal government's decision to scale down seats at the union council level. However, the ratio of women representation will increase from 28.54 percent to 30.71 percent in the local governments after the reduction of seats of male councillors.
The new local government system, which took birth some four years back, each union council comprised 21 elected representatives, including Nazim, Naib Nazim, eight general councillors (male), four general councillors (female), four labour councillors (male), two labour councillors (female) and one minority councillor.
The Federal government, on the demand of provincial governments a few months back, decided to reduce the number of seats, resulting in cutting down the size of basic unit of new local government system.
According to new composition of the union council, the 13-member council would comprise Nazim, Naib Nazim, four general councillors (male), two general councillors (female), two labour councillors (male), two labour councillors (female) and a minority councillor.
The abolished representations include four general councillors (male), two general councillor (female) and two labour councillors (male).
In Karachi alone, as many as 1,424 seats, including 356 women seats, would be cut down after the election as compared to the existing number of seats. Overall, a total of 8,752 seats, including 2,188 women seats of public representatives, have been reduced in Sindh.
Although the local body elections would be held on non-party basis, different political parties have started preparations for the forthcoming elections. Some of them have also issued nomination forms to their expected candidates on different seats. The Election Commission of Pakistan has already finalised the new voter lists.