Cantonments (Pakistan)

Cantonments in Pakistan are permanent military stationed areas, which are administered by Cantonment Boards under the control of the Military Lands & Cantonments Department (MLCD), Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan. Cantonments are established under and governed by the Cantonments Act, 1924.

In 2011, there were a total of 48 Cantonments in Pakistan (see list below).

Administration of cantonments
Prior to 1864, cantonments used to be administered by military authorities under various Government Orders. In 1864, for the first time, an Act was adopted for improving the administration of the cantonments. A magistrate was appointed to administer the area. The Act also regulated the funds granted by Government for the purpose of bettering the various facilities.

In 1880, another Act was passed to empower the cantonment authority to impose taxes and legal status was given to the cantonment committee. The Act gave power to impose fines and penalties for non-payment of taxes and for encroachments. After the first world war for reaching political changes took place in the sub-continent and it affected the administration of the cantonments as well. The changes also be-part of cantonment’s day-to-day life, had to be associated with its working.

The Cantonments Act, 1924 was the landmark in the history of cantonments as it brought in its wake some sweeping changes. The Act introduced the representative local government system under which elected representative of the civil population became members of the Cantonment Boards. The Board were created as autonomous statutory local bodies for providing civil services. The powers and functions of the Cantonment Board are synonymous to Municipal Committees in the cities. The members constituting the Board are both officially nominated as well as elected through a direct vote on the basis of adult franchise. Officials nominated as members obviously hold the majority and the Station Commander, who is a senior military officer, is the ex officio President of the Board. This is to protect the interest of troops and ensure their welfare and discipline.

The administration of Cantonments and management of the military lands inside and outside the cantonments is centrally controlled and supervised by the Military Lands and Cantonments Department which is an attached department of the Ministry of Defence headed by a Director General. The Director General is assisted by an Additional Director and a Deputy Director at the headquarter. In addition five Regional Deputy Director based at Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta supervise the respective Cantonment Boards in their jurisdiction. The Cantonment Executive Officer is the principal executive at the local level. The Board normally decides and lays down policies and the Executive Officer executes these policies. He is the chief exponent of the Board’s policies. He acts as an adviser and is a permanent Officer specially trained in local administration. He is sufficiently empowered to carry out the policies and decisions and ensure adherence to the various laws and bye-laws. The presence of elected members in the Board has a salutary effect and is most beneficial for the civilian residents because they are the media to convey their views. The elected members play an important role in the development of public services in their respective areas. Development works are usually carried out in consultation with the respective elected members. Major development schemes are finalized in the Budget meeting held before the beginning of the fiscal year, with the consent of all the members.

The Cantonment Board is an organ of the local government and is free to formulate policies for local development within the frame work of the Cantonments Act and other Government Regulations. The Board ordinarily holds on meeting every month. All matters are decided by majority but in case of a tie, the matter is decided through the Presidents casting vote. All meetings of the Board are open meetings unless specifically directed otherwise by the President of the Board.

All Cantonments Board work under the administrative control of the Director General, Military Lands and Cantonments. The Director General issues various directives on important policy matters from time to time and the Cantonment Boards comply with the same. All accounts are audited annually by the Audit Department of the Government of Pakistan.

Balochistan Province

 * Chaman Cantonment
 * Khuzdar Cantonment
 * Loralai Cantonment
 * Ormara Cantonment
 * Quetta Cantonment
 * Zhob Cantonment

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

 * Abbottabad Cantonment
 * Bannu Cantonment
 * Cherat Cantonment
 * Dera Ismail Khan Cantonment
 * Havelian Cantonment
 * Kohat Cantonment
 * Mardan Cantonment
 * Nowshera Cantonment
 * Peshawar Cantonment
 * Risalpur Cantonment

Punjab Province

 * Attock Cantonment
 * Bhawalpur Cantonment
 * Chaklala Cantonment
 * D.G. Khan Cantonment
 * Gujranwala Cantonment
 * Jhelum Cantonment
 * Kamra Cantonment
 * Kharian Cantonment
 * Lahore Cantonment
 * Mangla Cantonment
 * Multan Cantonment
 * Murree Hills Cantonment
 * Mailsi Cantonment
 * Okara Cantonment
 * Rawalpindi Cantonment
 * Sanjwal Cantonment
 * Sargodha Cantonment
 * Shorkot Cantonment
 * Sialkot Cantonment
 * Taxila Cantonment
 * Wah Cantonment
 * Walton Cantonment

Sindh Province

 * Chhor Cantonment
 * Clifton Cantonment, Karachi
 * Faisal Cantonment, Karachi
 * Hyderabad Cantonment
 * Karachi Cantonment
 * Korangi Creek Cantonment, Karachi
 * Malir Cantonment, Karachi
 * Manora Cantonment, Karachi
 * Pano Aqil Cantonment

Gilgit Baltistan

 * Gilgit Cantonment
 * Skardu Cantonment