KARACHI – In a significant move toward holding local government elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially released the final delimitation lists (Form-9) for all Cantonment Boards across Karachi. This development marks a crucial step in the electoral process, defining the new boundaries for representation across the city’s military-administered residential and commercial zones.
According to the details provided by the Election Commission, the six Cantonment Boards of Karachi have been collectively divided into 42 wards. Among these, Clifton, Faisal, and Malir Cantonments have emerged as the largest administrative blocks, with each being allocated 10 wards. The Clifton Cantonment Board’s jurisdiction now covers all phases of DHA, Gizri, and Delhi Colony. Faisal Cantonment includes densely populated areas such as Model Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar Block 18, and PIA Staff Colony, while Malir Cantonment encompasses regions like Cantt Bazar, Zakaria Goth, and KESC Society.
The remaining wards are distributed among the smaller boards, with the Karachi (Saddar) Cantonment Board comprising 5 wards that span across Saddar, Lines Area, and various Askari regions. Korangi Creek Cantonment Board has also been divided into 5 wards to manage its surrounding vicinities. Manora Cantonment, which is the smallest unit in terms of geographical area, consists of only 2 wards.
The Form-9 lists provide a comprehensive breakdown of the boundaries, including specific census blocks and the population count assigned to each individual ward. With the finalization of these ward boundaries, the legal and administrative hurdles for holding local bodies’ elections in these areas have been largely removed. The ECP is expected to announce the formal election schedule soon, allowing residents of these zones to elect their local representatives for the first time since the previous terms expired.
Karachi Fact Check: These new delimitations are based on the latest census data to ensure proportional representation for the growing population within Karachi’s Cantonment limits.
