Voter expectations: Majority expect local governments to deliver services they don’t control

Those who don’t expect much from local govts cite apathetic behavior

LAHORE: An overwhelming majority of respondents interviewed by The Express Tribune expect the local governments to ensure provision of quality municipal services.

Among the services most frequently mentioned are water supply and sanitation and road repairs and installation of streetlights.

A significant number mention improved provision of utilities like natural gas and electricity, referring also to the need to check price inflation.

These expectations have persisted in spite of the government’s lack of authority over distribution of electricity or natural gas.

In Lahore, the elected leadership of the metropolitan corporation formed under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance of 2013 will also have no legal authority over the recently-proposed bodies (like the Lahore Waste Management Company, the Lahore Parking Company etc) meant to look after delivery of municipal services like waste management, water supply and sanitation or road works.

Of the 111 respondents interviewed by The Tribune, about 40 per cent (44 out of 111) say they expect their representatives to ensure effective delivery of municipal services. Water and sanitation, streetlights and road repairs are among the most frequently mentioned services.

Among the 12 percent (14 of 111) who mention rehabilitation of public utilities, low pressure of natural gas supplied to domestic consumers and inflation in prices of all utilities are prominent themes.

About 20 per cent respondents mention promotion of employment opportunities for the youth and 10 per cent affordable housing as the tasks they expect the local governments to perform.

Those who say they have no expectations from the local government are only eight per cent of the respondents. Apathetic behaviour of elected representatives following elections is the most frequently cited reason. No one has referred to lack of legal authority to take consequential decisions.

Note on methodology

The interviews were conducted prior to the first phase of the local government elections held on October 31.

A random sample of 111 respondents was selected from four different national assembly constituencies in Lahore covering the Walled City and some neighbhourhoods in its vicinity.

It may not be prudent to treat the sample as representative of country-wide trends in voter behavior. Nonetheless, the responses received from these individuals can provide insight into voter perceptions and behaviour in urban areas in the Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st,  2015.