Local govt reps deplore non-release of funds

A meeting of all the elected local bodies’ representatives from all over the province was held under the chair of Quetta Mayor Dr Kaleemullah Khan Kakar, head of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation at his office on Sunday.

Many important decisions on various matters and their implementation were examined that included the non-release of Rs5 billion budget that was agreed for the municipal corporations in the financial year 2017-18.

Furthermore, the non-release of dues of non-developmental projects, the approval of development and non-development budget of 2018-19 by the provincial government came under discussion.

In addition to that according to the recommendations of the committee, receiving of dues payable by the federal government under the GST, cases being pursued in courts and ban imposed by the elections commissions and other matters.

Different committees submitted separate reports on all these matters. Future course of action will be decided after negotiations with the provincial chief minister and his cabinet.

The meeting deplored that the first, second and third government of the province did not play its due role in making the municipal institutions active, strong and neither gave it any authority.

On the strong demands of the municipal representatives, the previous governments did release the funds but did not carry the necessary amendment in the act.

It was decided that all the elected representatives of the municipal institutions including the mayors, deputy mayors, chairman, deputy chairman and councillors of all levels will unite in order to obtain their constitutional authority and financial resources.