NO DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR MNAs/MPAs & CLEAR CUT POWERS FOR UC, TEHSIL & DISTRICT UNITS

TRANSPARENT & SOLID LOCAL BODIES SYSTEM WITH CHECK & BALANCE IN PUNJAB-SENIOR MINISTER

NO DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR MNAs/MPAs & CLEAR CUT POWERS FOR UC, TEHSIL & DISTRICT UNITS

DISTRICT HEAD WOULD ELECTED BY DIRECT ELECTIONS WITH VISIBLE CHANGE – ABDUL ALEEM KHAN

LAHORE, AUGUST 31: In Punjab new local bodies system would comprising upon transparent and solid footings with financial and administrative and proper check and balance, as well so that power could be transmitted at grass root level. It was disclosed by Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan while presiding over a high level meeting of Local Bodies Department here at his office at 90-The Mall in which recommendations for the proposed local bodies system were discussed in detail. Senior Abdul Aleem Khan said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the new system there would direct election for the tehsil and district head for which each citizen would be voting. Similarly, MNAs and MPAs would not be given development funds and almost all the developmental work would be done through these local body members. He asked the officer to prepare solid recommendations within 24 hours so that the same could be presented to the Prime Minister. Senior Minister directed to have comparative study of London, New York and other international cities’ local bodies system and unfold something new and practicable to make visible change at local level. Abdul Aleem Khan said that in the new system Local Bodies Acts of 2001 & 2013 should be consulted along with KPK model. He added that monitoring and audit system should also be devised in which elected representative may be included. Senior Minister said that in union council size should also be cut around 5 to 6 elected and around 10 for the whole house while the population should be 20 to 25 thousand.  He said that we want to bring such clear cut system in which no ghost scheme could be surfaced. Senior Minister said that construction of street, drainage, soling and street light should be the domain of union council while water supply and municipal be done by Tehsil Administration so that there may be no overlapping and public funds are not wasted. He said that the last government did nothing to empower the local bodies representatives and only Rs. 3 lac were being given to them which also remained in vein.  Abdul Aleem Khan said that Village Council and Neighborhood Council would be established on the pattern of KPK province which has delivered maximum to the massed at grass root level.
Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan was given briefing by Secretary Local Government Arif Anwar Baloch and other senior officers and said that keeping in view the past experiences different recommendations can be considered. They also highlighted the role of Local Bodies Department in the news system and said that maximum funds should be provided at local level.

With the compliments of the Handout No. 1590/Gohar/Ahsan
Directorate General of Public Relations
Govt. of the Punjab Lahore. Ph 042 99201390     HANDOUT   ( A )