Local govt conundrum: ‘PPP is ready for polls but coalition isn’t’
LG minister addresses meeting, discusses new drainage plan, cyclone preparation.
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Peoples Party is in favour of holding local government elections but its coalition partners are not ready, said Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani.
“Since the present government is a coalition, we need to have consensus on the matter,” he said, addressing a meeting at the DCO camp office with city government officials on Saturday.
As soon as the coalition partners believe the time is right, the schedule of the local government polls would be announced, added the minister.
He discussed the city’s storm water drainage system. The government has almost completed a plan and soon a meeting would be held with the civic authorities to finalise the new drainage system plan. “The will of the government is all there. We are just lacking funds,” he said.
Durrani said that even though the cyclone threat has dissipated, the authorities have still completed their work in case a storm hits the coastal belt. The minister also pointed to the lack of funds has been a hurdle in almost every government plan or project. The provincial government had to take a loan from the World Bank for the rehabilitation of the flood survivors. The Centre still has not provided funds for the expenses incurred during the flood emergency, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.
The Pakistan Peoples Party is in favour of holding local government elections but its coalition partners are not ready, said Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani.
“Since the present government is a coalition, we need to have consensus on the matter,” he said, addressing a meeting at the DCO camp office with city government officials on Saturday.
As soon as the coalition partners believe the time is right, the schedule of the local government polls would be announced, added the minister.
He discussed the city’s storm water drainage system. The government has almost completed a plan and soon a meeting would be held with the civic authorities to finalise the new drainage system plan. “The will of the government is all there. We are just lacking funds,” he said.
Durrani said that even though the cyclone threat has dissipated, the authorities have still completed their work in case a storm hits the coastal belt. The minister also pointed to the lack of funds has been a hurdle in almost every government plan or project. The provincial government had to take a loan from the World Bank for the rehabilitation of the flood survivors. The Centre still has not provided funds for the expenses incurred during the flood emergency, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.