Local govts will be allowed to complete term: PM Imran

New LG system to be based on K-P model

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided in principle not to wrap up the exiting local government (LG) system in provinces, especially in Punjab, before the incumbent governments complete their tenures.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting on revamping the LG system in the country which was attended by senior members of federal and provincial cabinets.

The meeting reviewed in detail the newly-installed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s ambitious plan to roll out an upgraded version of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa local government system across the country with power and resources devolved down to the village level.



“Given the chances of unnecessary litigation and agitation from other political parties, the PTI government is of the view to let the incumbent local governments complete their respective tenures,” a senior cabinet member who attended the meeting told The Express Tribune.

The LGs in Punjab will complete their tenure in November 2019. Earlier, the PML-N leadership had threatened mass agitation besides a legal action in case the PTI government tried to send the local governments in Punjab packing before the completion of their tenure.

During the meeting, it was also decided to further shorten the current local government unit – the union council – on the basis of population for a better management and decentralisation of power.

“Punjab is the most populous province of the country and it will require further devolution of the current administrative units for empowering people at grassroots level,” he said.

Similarly, according to him, the tribal areas and Balochistan have their own cultural dynamics where two influential clans cannot be kept under one administrative unit as it will create problems in future.

Answering a question, he said the committee working on drafting proposal on new LG system would be able to submit basic structure of the local government or proposed blueprint for a revamped LG system for provinces and Islamabad in the next one month.

“After this, work will be initiated on distribution of UCs or wards on the basis of population and how to fit in the proposed new system,” he said.

The minister, who wished to be kept anonymous, said on the basis of the proposed blueprint, necessary amendments would be suggested to the prevailing local government laws, and provinces would be asked to do necessary legislation in their respective assemblies.



According to a statement issued by the PM Office following the meeting, the premier said: “The PTI government believes in transfer of powers to the grassroots level, which is only possible by strengthening the local government system.”

Khan said the empowered people in a local bodies system can be the best form of the government. He said people should take their decisions on their own “which is not possible without ensuring a strong local government system in Pakistan”.

“Local government system will be made functional on the pattern of government's experience in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” the PM said, adding that people would be strengthened by empowering the local bodies.

The PM will chair next meeting over the local government issue on September 22.