K-P leading the way: CM says LG system an example for others

UNDP country head hopes the province can inspire others

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is the first province to establish a local government system in its true sense by empowering institutions at the grass-roots level.

This was stated in a handout issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Friday. According to the document, he was speaking to UNDP Country Director Marc-Andre Franche at CM House in the city on Friday. Senior Minister for Irrigation Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, additional chief secretary and local government secretary were present on the occasion.



Franche said he was impressed by the K-P Local Government Act 2013. “K-P is the only province which has a local government law,” the handout quoted him as saying.

Speaking to UNDP representatives, Khattak said no province of the country had allocated funds towards the local government system.

He added there was a separate secretariat to monitor development schemes initiated by the local government.

Khattak informed the UNDP representative that the present government had stopped political interference and evolved a clear policy to bring transparency in the local government.

The CM added women development, health, education, agriculture and other sectors had been made compulsory for the local government to spend on.

“Around 30% of the budget has been allocated for development,” the document quoted the CM as saying.

Khattak said officials had the capacity to spend the allocated amount efficiently.

“There will be strict monitoring of schemes in the spending of funds and ensuring projects are completed within the stipulated time,” the handout cited the CM as saying.

The LG secretary informed the UNDP representative development schemes would soon be launched in selected districts of the province.

Franche showed interest in capacity-building of local government representatives. He hoped Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s success in strengthening local government system would inspire the rest of the country to take action in this regard.

The UNDP country director sympathised with the chief minister over the attack on Bacha Khan University, Charsadda.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.