Local governments bodies play a very important role in the prosperity and development of people at the grassroot level. The basic concept of local government should be to assist the people with their own resources on a self-help basis. The basic idea of local government in Balochistan has been derived from the Basic Democracy system. This system was introduced in Pakistan in 1960 during the regime of president Ayub Khan. In 1979, the present system of local government was introduced.

At present there are 13 Union Councils in the district of Kalat . The representatives of the Union Councils (Councilors) are elected through direct elections. The local bodies elections in Kalat district have been held on non-party basis in 1979, 1983, 1987 & 1991, as was the case all over Pakistan. These local bodies were dissolved on December 19, 1996 through a Government’s proclamation. New direct elections for the local bodies are expected in the near future. The local government system covers all the rural areas (see annex 4 for the functions of local government bodies).

Back to Kalat