Analysis of Local Government Elections (2015) in Punjab (Multan)
Abstract
The 2015 local government elections in Multan, held on December 5, 2015, marked a significant
step toward restoring grassroots democracy under the Punjab Local Government Act of 2013.
The elections were part of a broader effort to decentralize governance in Punjab and saw the
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerge as the dominant political force in Multan.
Keywords
Multan, District, Elections, Local Government, Councils, Tehsil, Union, Municipal,
Infrastructure, Sanitation, Development, Commission, Finance, Devolve, Zoning, Manifesto,
Healthcare, Governance, Constituency, Challenges, Urbanization.
Introduction to Multan District
Multan District is a prominent administrative division located in the southern region of Punjab,
Pakistan. Known as the "City of Saints" due to its rich history of Sufi shrines and religious
significance, Multan is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, with a history spanning thousands
of years. Multan is situated on the banks of the Chenab River and is bordered by Khanewal,
Lodhran, and Vehari districts. Its central location in Punjab makes it an important hub for trade,
culture, and transportation.
Historical Significance
Multan's history is deeply intertwined with various civilizations, including the Aryans, Greeks,
Mauryans, and Muslims. It was a major center of trade and culture during the Mughal era and
retains architectural relics from that period.
Multan's cultural identity is rooted in its Sufi traditions. The city is home to numerous shrines
and mosques that reflect its spiritual heritage. The city's historical landmarks, such as the shrines
of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya, attract thousands of visitors annually. Festivals
and Urs (annual celebrations) of Sufi saints are significant cultural events in the district.
Local Government system of Multan
The local government system in Pakistan, including in Multan, is a decentralized system
designed to enable more efficient governance at the grassroots level. Local governments are
responsible for handling various public services and local administration, addressing issues like
infrastructure, healthcare, education, sanitation, and social services.
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Key Features:
Structure: Local government in Pakistan is typically divided into urban and rural areas, each
with different governance structures. Local councils include district councils, tehsil councils, and
union councils.
Elections: Local elections, such as those held in 2015 in Multan, are conducted to elect
representatives for mayoral positions, as well as councilors who manage local affairs.
Functions: The responsibilities of local governments include urban planning, waste
management, water supply, public health, education, and the promotion of economic
development at the local level.
Empowerment and Devolution: Local governments are empowered to make decisions on local
issues, though their autonomy can be constrained by provincial and federal governments'
influence, particularly in financial matters. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan
(2010) aimed to devolve more powers to local governments to ensure efficient delivery of
services and enhance local participation in governance.
Analysis of Local Government Elections (2015) in Punjab (Multan)
1. Number of Tehsils and Union Councils in Multan
Multan District consists of four tehsils, which are further divided into Union Councils for local
governance. The details are as follows:
Number of Union Councils in Multan District
There are 28 union councils in Multan City Tehsil.
There are 55 union councils in Multan Saddar Tehsil
There are 28 union councils in Shujabad Tehsil as well.
Finally, the Tehsil, Jalalpur Pirwala is consisted of 22 union councils.
Total Union Councils: 133
These councils are responsible for managing local development projects, public services, and
community needs. Additionally, there are Tehsil Councils corresponding to the four tehsils,
which coordinate governance at the tehsil level.
This administrative structure aims to facilitate efficient management and representation of the
population across urban and rural areas of the district.
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2. Number of Contested Candidates in Multan
In the 2015 local government elections in Multan, a significant number of candidates contested
for various seats in the union councils and other local bodies.
Over 1,200 candidates contested for different seats in Multan's union councils. These included
candidates for general seats, women’s seats, youth seats, and seats for non-Muslims.
The elections saw intense competition, with political parties like PML-N, PTI, and PPP fielding
numerous candidates, along with several independent aspirants.
The PML-N emerged victorious in the majority of seats, securing control over the municipal
corporation and local councils.
3. List of Elected Members
In the 2015 local government elections in Multan, numerous candidates were elected to various
positions across the city's union councils and the municipal corporation. Below is an overview of
the key elected members:
Mayor of Multan: Naveed-ul-Haq Arain (Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, PML-N) was
elected as the Mayor of Multan.
Deputy Mayor: Abdul Ghaffar (PML-N) was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Multan.
Union Councils: Members were elected to represent general seats, women’s seats, youth seats,
and non-Muslim seats in the union councils.
The PML-N dominated the election, winning a significant number of seats, including those in the
Multan Municipal Corporation and its union councils.
4. Plans and Manifesto
Infrastructure Development: Focus on roads, bridges, and public transport systems to improve
connectivity within Multan.
Expansion of the city's drainage system to prevent urban flooding.
Health and Sanitation: Better waste management systems and improved sanitation services.
Upgrading public hospitals and ensuring access to healthcare for all citizens.
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Education: Enhancing facilities in public schools.
Initiatives to improve literacy rates in rural and urban areas.
Economic Growth: Promoting small businesses through subsidies and incentives.
Attracting investment for industrial development in Multan.
Challenges in Fulfillment
The local government of Multan, following the 2015 elections, faced several challenges in
implementing its plans and fulfilling its manifesto promises. These challenges were rooted in
administrative, financial, and structural constraints. Here are the key issues:
Financial Constraints: Insufficient funds were allocated to the municipal corporation, limiting
its ability to carry out large-scale development projects.
Dependence on the provincial government for financial support hindered the autonomy of the
local government.
Administrative Inefficiencies: Lack of capacity in the local government structure to plan and
execute development projects effectively.
Bureaucratic hurdles slowed down project approvals and implementation.
Provincial Government Interference: The Punjab provincial government retained significant
control over local governance, limiting the authority of elected representatives.
Decisions about major projects were often made at the provincial level, bypassing local officials.
Urbanization and Population Growth: Rapid urban expansion in Multan put immense pressure
on infrastructure, housing, and public services.
Limited urban planning exacerbated issues like traffic congestion, inadequate drainage, and poor
waste management.
Public Service Gaps: Challenges in providing consistent water supply, sanitation, and healthcare
services persisted due to limited resources and mismanagement.
Overcrowded public hospitals and underfunded schools remained major issues.
Political Instability: Frequent changes in political priorities and conflicts between local and
provincial leadership disrupted governance continuity.
Lack of collaboration among political parties in addressing local challenges.
Environmental Concerns: Neglect of environmental issues like pollution and deforestation
worsened the quality of life for residents.
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Poor waste disposal practices contributed to environmental degradation.
Limited Public Participation: Although the elections revived grassroots governance, public
involvement in decision-making processes remained low.
Lack of transparency and accountability in governance reduced trust in local institutions.
5. PML-N and its Relationship with the Masses:
The relationship between elected local government officials in Multan, especially after the 2015
local government elections, and the masses can be described as a blend of political strategies,
promises, and challenges in governance.
Promises and Expectations: During the election, PML-N's manifesto was largely focused on
improving urban infrastructure, healthcare, education, and sanitation. This attracted the support
of the masses, particularly in areas of development and public service improvement.
The party promised better management of civic services like waste disposal and traffic
management, which are critical issues for the urban population.
Public Interaction: The party had significant grassroots support, particularly in urban areas, due
to the local leadership's established presence and personal connections with constituents. The
relationship was more personal and accessible, as candidates often maintained close contact with
communities through traditional political gatherings, meetings, and social events.
PML-N's success in Multan was built on this strong rapport with voters, who expected
continuous development and better service delivery from local government leaders.
Challenges in Fulfillment: Despite the promises, the relationship with the masses became
strained due to delays in fulfilling key promises, especially in infrastructure and public services.
The difficulties in securing sufficient funding, coupled with bureaucratic challenges and political
interference from the provincial government, hindered progress.
Issues such as poor sanitation, traffic congestion, and healthcare shortages persisted, leading to
frustration among the local population. This occasionally soured the relationship, as voters felt
that the promises made during the election had not been fully realized.
Public Perception: Although PML-N officials maintained a strong presence in the community,
there were perceptions of nepotism, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. These issues affected
the public's trust and satisfaction with the local government, despite their initial support for the
party.
Social Media and Citizen Feedback: In the modern era, feedback from the masses often
reached officials through social media platforms, where local leaders would sometimes engage
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with public concerns. However, the effectiveness of these engagements varied, and many
complaints about governance issues remained unresolved due to the administrative and financial
constraints faced by local officials.
6. Key Development Areas in Multan
The key development areas for the local government of Multan after the 2015 elections included:
Infrastructure Development: Enhancing roads, public transport (like the Metro Bus project),
and drainage systems to manage urban growth and prevent flooding.
Waste Management and Sanitation: Improving waste collection, sanitation services, and
keeping public spaces clean.
Healthcare and Education: Upgrading healthcare facilities and public schools to improve
access to essential services.
Economic Development: Promoting local businesses and attracting investment to create job
opportunities.
Environmental Sustainability: Addressing pollution and preserving Multan’s cultural and
environmental heritage.
Urban Planning: Developing affordable housing and improving zoning to manage rapid
urbanization.
These areas aimed to address Multan's growing population and urbanization challenges but were
hindered by financial and administrative limitations.
7. Budget Allocation:
The budget allocation for the Multan local government following the 2015 elections was not
explicitly published in terms of an exact figure for the city, but it was mainly driven by
provincial grants and a mix of local revenues. In the Punjab province, the local government
received significant support through the Punjab Local Government Finance Commission, which
allocated funds based on district needs, with a focus on urban and rural development.
From available data, Multan likely received an allocation in the range of PKR 2 to 4 billion
annually for development projects, including road construction, healthcare, sanitation, and
infrastructure improvements. However, the exact amount varies yearly due to changes in the
provincial budget, grants, and specific development projects assigned to Multan.
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This budget was often split between revenue (for operational expenses) and capital development
(for infrastructure and public works). However, the real challenges were funding shortages,
reliance on provincial transfers, and the limitations of local revenue generation.
8. Analysis:
The Multan local government's budget was heavily reliant on provincial allocations from Punjab,
limiting the autonomy and flexibility of local leadership. This dependency hindered the ability to
execute large-scale infrastructure and development projects effectively. Despite efforts to focus
on improving infrastructure, healthcare, and sanitation, local revenue generation remained
insufficient to meet growing demands due to rapid urbanization. The lack of transparency in
budget allocation and slow implementation of projects contributed to public frustration and
hindered progress.
Conclusion
The local government of Multan faced significant challenges in fulfilling its development goals
due to financial limitations, dependence on external funding, and administrative inefficiencies.
While progress was made in key areas, the long-term sustainability of these developments
required better financial independence and enhanced accountability. More effective local revenue
generation and transparent budgeting are essential for addressing the city's rapid growth and
urban challenges.
References:
1. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECO) official body oversees elections in Pakistan,
including local elections in Multan. https://ecp.gov.pk/general-elections
2. Dawn News: Offers news articles and analysis on the 2015 local government elections,
discussing the political landscape, candidates, and the outcomes in cities like Multan.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1227129
3. Government of Punjab. Multan Development Authority. (https://mda.punjab.gov.pk)
4. Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) Report on Punjab's development
budget https://cpdi-pakistan.org/publications
5. Local Government and community Development Department Multan
https://lgcd.punjab.gov.pk/multan_district-lgs_soe
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