December 01, 2025
To foster a national dialogue on strengthening local governance structures, Sanober Institute Islamabad and Beaconhouse National University (BNU) Center for Policy Research (BCPR) jointly organized a National Conference on “Local Governance in Pakistan – Empowering Communities.” The conference was held at BNU, Lahore on December 01, 2025. The Conference aimed to revisit Pakistan’s history of local government, unpack barriers related to political will, fiscal autonomy, and legislation, and highlight pathways for meaningful reform.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, practitioners, civil society representatives, students, and media professionals to engage in a comprehensive discussion on the current state and future direction of local governance in Pakistan. Participants explored themes including the historical evolution of local government systems, institutional and fiscal challenges, and international best practices. The participants noted that without empowered local governments, democracy remains incomplete as local governments are not just delivery units, they are democracy at the doorstep. Pakistan’s history shows repeated cycles of centralization and neglect of grassroots institutions. The conference participants brought into spotlight the role of inclusivity, citizen participation, and digital innovation in improving governance at the grassroots level, proposing actionable recommendations to strengthen democratic foundations and empower communities across the country.
Speaker of Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan addressed the closing session. The Conference established a task force which worked for six months, and published a detailed report on August 14, 2026.
Download Report: National Conference on “Local Governance in Pakistan – Empowering Communities.”
YT Link:
Chaired by:
- Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry (Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Chairman of Sanober Institute)
Speakers:
- Dr Qamar Cheema, Executive Director, Sanober Institute
- Dr. Zainab Ahmed (Deputy Director of the BNU Center for Policy Research)
- Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera (Former Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan)
- Khurram Dastgir Khan (Former Federal Minister for Energy)
- Dr. Moeed Yusuf (Former National Security Advisor)
- Fawad Chaudhry (Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting)
- Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi (Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the EU)
- Dr. Seemi Waheed (Professor at University of Management and Technology)
- Salman Abid (Senior journalist and analyst)
- Usama Khawar Ghumman (Advisor and speaker in the Punjab Assembly)
- Ahmed Bilal Mehboob (President, PILDAT)
- Vice Admiral (R) Khan Hasham Khan (Former Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan Navy)
- Malik Ahmad Khan (Speaker of the Punjab Assembly)
