Stumbling blocks: Absence of guidelines triggers delays in local council budget
Guidelines have been amended but not sent to local govt bodies as yet
Guidelines have been amended but not sent to local govt bodies as yet. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
The absence of new guidelines from Planning and Development (P&D) department for recommendations approved by the provincial government about budget allocations has caused delays in the preparation and presentation of the district budget under the K-P Local Government Act,2013.
The guidelines for the devolved tiers of local government help councils in identifying, preparing, executing and monitoring development projects funded by the district, tehsil, town, village or neighbourhood councils. The funds received from the provincial and federal governments also fall under these guidelines.
Recent changes in the guidelines, approved by the provincial government have irked the local representatives.
In the past, projects for district and tehsil councils in Annual Development Programme were placed before district or tehsil development committee for technical approval. Projects for village or neighbourhood councils were approved by the project approval committee.
The new recommendations state the district development committee shall be chaired by the nazim. After that, PC-I will be issued by the respective deputy commissioner.
Similarly, allocation of funds for various sectors in local councils has also been changed. As per the recommendations, allocation for road and sanitation services has been excluded from the priority sectors while the discretionary fund for nazims has been increased from 25% to 55% of the total district ADP. The discretionary fund of tehsil council has been increased from 30% to 50% of the tehsil ADP.
Over the issue, the city district nazim Muhammad Asim Khan told The Express Tribune district nazims had sent recommendations on the previous guidelines of the P&D to the department and asked for a relaxation. This was subsequently accepted.
When asked about delays in preparing the budget and presenting it in the district council, he replied that the new P&D guidelines have yet to be formally sent to the districts, which is causing the delay.
“However ,the district government has prepared a rough draft for the budget but the final copy would be prepared as per P&D guidelines,” Muhammad Asim said.
Almost all tiers of the local government have not convened budget sessions to table the financial bill for 2016-17. This also violates rules of K-P Local Government Act, 2013. As per the legislation, the budget should be prepare and presented in the councils before commencement of new financial year.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Swabi district nazim Amir Rehman said they know the budget should be presented before June as per law. “We are confused by the changes made to previous P&D guidelines, and have only heard about it on the news, nothing received to us in written,” he said. “The council couldn’t convene budget session without proper notifications about the P&D developments. The district P &D department hasn’t received the new guidelines from the provincial government either.
However, Mardan district presented its budget on July 22, which was passed. Talking to The Express Tribune, Mardan district nazim Himayatullah Mayar said the district council presented and passed the budget as he was aware of the changes made to the guidelines.
“I was present at the meeting where the new recommendations were approved,” he said. “We have presented the budget according to those recommendations.”
He continued, “It is due to the incompetence of the government that the guidelines have not been received by any local district government office.” Another reason for presenting the budget without written guidelines is that the local government employes needed to receive their salaries, this cannot be done without the new budget getting approved. The delays will also halt development projects.
Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan was not available to comment on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2016.
The absence of new guidelines from Planning and Development (P&D) department for recommendations approved by the provincial government about budget allocations has caused delays in the preparation and presentation of the district budget under the K-P Local Government Act,2013.
The guidelines for the devolved tiers of local government help councils in identifying, preparing, executing and monitoring development projects funded by the district, tehsil, town, village or neighbourhood councils. The funds received from the provincial and federal governments also fall under these guidelines.
Recent changes in the guidelines, approved by the provincial government have irked the local representatives.
In the past, projects for district and tehsil councils in Annual Development Programme were placed before district or tehsil development committee for technical approval. Projects for village or neighbourhood councils were approved by the project approval committee.
The new recommendations state the district development committee shall be chaired by the nazim. After that, PC-I will be issued by the respective deputy commissioner.
Similarly, allocation of funds for various sectors in local councils has also been changed. As per the recommendations, allocation for road and sanitation services has been excluded from the priority sectors while the discretionary fund for nazims has been increased from 25% to 55% of the total district ADP. The discretionary fund of tehsil council has been increased from 30% to 50% of the tehsil ADP.
Over the issue, the city district nazim Muhammad Asim Khan told The Express Tribune district nazims had sent recommendations on the previous guidelines of the P&D to the department and asked for a relaxation. This was subsequently accepted.
When asked about delays in preparing the budget and presenting it in the district council, he replied that the new P&D guidelines have yet to be formally sent to the districts, which is causing the delay.
“However ,the district government has prepared a rough draft for the budget but the final copy would be prepared as per P&D guidelines,” Muhammad Asim said.
Almost all tiers of the local government have not convened budget sessions to table the financial bill for 2016-17. This also violates rules of K-P Local Government Act, 2013. As per the legislation, the budget should be prepare and presented in the councils before commencement of new financial year.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Swabi district nazim Amir Rehman said they know the budget should be presented before June as per law. “We are confused by the changes made to previous P&D guidelines, and have only heard about it on the news, nothing received to us in written,” he said. “The council couldn’t convene budget session without proper notifications about the P&D developments. The district P &D department hasn’t received the new guidelines from the provincial government either.
However, Mardan district presented its budget on July 22, which was passed. Talking to The Express Tribune, Mardan district nazim Himayatullah Mayar said the district council presented and passed the budget as he was aware of the changes made to the guidelines.
“I was present at the meeting where the new recommendations were approved,” he said. “We have presented the budget according to those recommendations.”
He continued, “It is due to the incompetence of the government that the guidelines have not been received by any local district government office.” Another reason for presenting the budget without written guidelines is that the local government employes needed to receive their salaries, this cannot be done without the new budget getting approved. The delays will also halt development projects.
Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan was not available to comment on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2016.