Pasighat serves as the district headquarters of the East Siang District. The district administration is led by a Deputy Commissioner (DC), a state government appointee who oversees law and order, revenue, and general administration.
Local civic affairs are managed by the Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC), which oversees sanitation, local road maintenance, and basic urban amenities. The city is divided into several wards, each electing a municipal councilor. At the state level, Pasighat falls under two legislative assembly constituencies (Pasighat East and Pasighat West) which elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to the Arunachal Pradesh State Legislature.