Abdul Aleem Khan. PHOTO: ONLINE / FILE
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development (LGCD) Abdul Aleem Khan has directed officials to prepare recommendations for a new local government act to be implemented in Punjab.
While chairing a briefing session at the department, the minister said that concrete proposals should be drafted while keeping the past in mind, so that apart from empowering elected representatives, these institutions can serve the masses.
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Khan directed officials to consider local government acts of 2001 and 2013 while drafting a proposal which in turn should benefit the people of the province.
“People have great expectations of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government; visible changes will surely be seen in the coming months,” he expressed.
He added that there will be no compromise on the quality of work and basic changes will be brought to the current system. Only able and hardworking officers will be supported during my tenure; no recommendations will be made for corrupt and inefficient ones, he stressed.
“I believe in teamwork and with our joint efforts we will move towards the right direction,” he maintained.
He added that he and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the new local government system that will introduced in the province.
He emphasised on the need to bring basic changes in the solid waste management system. He added that an effective mechanism be introduced whereby he is able to monitor all functions and communicate efficiently.
Local Government Secretary Arif Anwar Baloch briefed the minister about the different sections within the department. He revealed that there are 182 municipal committees, 10 metropolitan and 35 district councils functioning in the province.
While electioneering, the prime minister promised to introduce a new system for local government, he added. Under this new system, the district nazim will be elected directly and will constitute a team of technocrats in his cabinet to put the district towards the path of development, he said.
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Such concepts of electing mayors indirectly does not exist in the developed world, he explained.
He said that there will be no development funds for members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, so that MNAs and MPAs can focus on legislation.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2018.
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