Committee formed to recommend empowerment of DCs

CS says the current system has made the post of DC dysfunctional

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Zahid Saeed has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary to prepare recommendations for empowerment of deputy commissioners.

The members of committee are secretary services, secretary regulation, secretary implementation and coordination, deputy commissioners of Rahim Yar Khan, Gujrat and Sargodha districts. The chief secretary, presiding over a meeting of all deputy commissioners at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday, said DCs would be given more powers to improve public service delivery in districts. The committee was made after the deputy commissioners during the meeting expressed their dismay over the current system that has made the post of DCs dysfunctional.

Sources said deputy commissioners throughout Punjab were left with nothing to do. He said the post that earlier had control of over 28 departments was only limited with matter relating to revenue, price control and the tasks assigned by the provincial government. All the departments that were decentralised after 18 amendments seems to have been provincial centralised again after this local governments system. “For the people not living in Lahore, it was a nightmare. For every little or big issue, people are forced to travel hundreds to miles to Lahore from parts of Punjab to pursue their cases with the secretaries concerned,” Saeed said.

“Under the current system, even if all the DC posts are left vacant, it wouldn’t have any impact. This system needs to be changed. Even for petty matters, such as patch work and street lights DC will have to approach the office of mayor or chairman,” he remarked. “A DC cannot even get beggars removed from city streets. What good is this post,” he questioned. He said DCs were made chairmen of Health and Education Authorities made under this new local government set up but that too was a stop gap arrangement.

“With no budget and no power, a DC’s slot is only a ceremonial post. The government needs to empower DCs, if they want the system to function properly.”

The chief secretary said protection of life and property of people was the prime responsibility of the government, adding that security arrangements in districts be improved. He directed the deputy commissioners to take special measures for foolproof security on the eve of Ester. He also emphasised the need for working with diligence and passion to make wheat procurement campaign a success so that farmers could be given relief in real sense.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2018.