Pakistan’s Sindh Province to begin 2022 local elections
Pakistan’s south-eastern Sindh Province will go to the polls today for the first phase of its 2022 local government elections.
Over 21,000 candidates will vie for the various town, metropolitan, municipal and district posts in 14 districts across Pakistan’s most industrialized province, home to Karachi—Pakistan’s financial hub—and two major ports. The second phase of polling will be held in the remaining 16 districts on July 24.
The results will be a barometer for the new center-left coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sindh is a stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)—a key party in Sharif’s coalition government. Although local politics focus mainly on service delivery and local issues, inflation is likely to be a major motivating factor in these elections given the significant increases in fuel prices. Sindh—given its industrial base—has seen protests since petrol prices have increased up to 83% since May 26.
Expect independents and other grassroots campaigners to win a fair proportion of posts throughout the province. They will likely pressure the PPP-dominated Sindh Provincial Assembly and the Sharif government to alleviate the cost of living pressures—a potential source of discontent for the opposition to attack Sharif ahead of next year’s general election.
Download the Daily Brief app to stay ahead of geopolitics with daily, short, forward-looking analysis of geopolitical events before they hit the headlines.
