Lawmakers airing their views during the special hour of Parliament on Wednesday called for formulating laws required for operating the local governments.

Elections for 617 local units of Province 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 have already been completed, with the third phase of local polls in Province 2 scheduled for September 18.

These elections now will install elected representatives in local bodies after a gap of around 15 years.

Underlining the need for bringing laws to operate local bodies at the earliest, lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai said the government “does not seem serious towards taking initiatives to start preparations for all elections within the constitutional deadline.”