OKARA – The Government of Punjab has officially issued a notification for a new administrative and local government structure for District Okara. Under the new division, the district has been reorganized into one Municipal Corporation, three Tehsil Councils, and nine Municipal Committees, significantly upgrading the status of several towns.
Okara City Elevated to Municipal Corporation
In a move to centralize urban governance, Okara City has been designated as the district’s sole Municipal Corporation. The new boundaries include the city center along with 23 adjacent rural areas from blocks 4-L, 2-L, and 2-R. The Corporation now commands a massive voter base of 500,996.
Expansion of Tehsil Councils
The rural and semi-urban landscapes of the district will now be governed by three major Tehsil Councils:
Tehsil Council Depalpur: The largest council in the district, comprising 497 villages and towns with a staggering 1,037,766 registered voters.
Tehsil Council Okara: Includes 218 villages, including historic areas like Satghara and Shergarh rural, with 741,050 voters.
Tehsil Council Renala Khurd: Governs 124 villages and settlements with 429,339 voters.
New Municipal Committees: Shergarh and Choorasta Mian Khan Upgraded
The most notable highlight of the notification is the elevation of Shergarh and Choorasta Mian Khan to Municipal Committee status. This upgrade ensures these towns will have independent budgets for local development and sanitation.
The 9 Municipal Committees are detailed below:
| Municipal Committee | Key Included Areas | Voter Count |
| Depalpur | Qila Tara Singh, Suba Ram, Jalal Kot | 142,414 |
| Haveli Lakha | City area, Mehtab Rai, Wasawewala | 131,806 |
| Renala Khurd | Revenue State, 5/1-RA, 20-21/2-L | 100,054 |
| Hujra Shah Muqeem | Shob Pura, Jallo Sarai, North Hujra | 97,952 |
| Basirpur | Wan Dharam Singh, Sultan Nagar | 68,199 |
| Mandi Ahmadabad | Sodhi Wala, Heera Singh, Kamyarian | 54,860 |
| Gogera | Bangla Gogera, 32-GD, Dhuly Khichi | 40,110 |
| Shergarh | Hussain Garh, Bongha Sodhiwala, DK-6 | 33,718 |
| Choorasta Mian Khan | Arora Mian Khan, Beeli Suja, Sahiba Wala | 25,496 |
Key Takeaways and Observations
Analysts have pointed out that Choorasta Mian Khan has become the smallest Municipal Committee in the district with just over 25,000 voters. Meanwhile, the inclusion of several surrounding “Mauzas” and “Chaks” into urban committees like Hujra Shah Muqeem and Basirpur signals a shift toward rapid urbanization in Okara.
This administrative shift is expected to streamline local government elections and accelerate infrastructure projects across the district by providing localized governance to previously neglected towns.