K-P cabinet approves civil administration bill

It will empower CM to set up good governance committees

PESHAWAR: The provincial cabinet on Tuesday approved a new law which will further empower the chief minister to set up bodies to ensure good governance and improve public service delivery, regulatory mechanisms and coordination between various departments at divisional, provincial and the local levels.

The body also approved greater powers for assistant commissioners and supplementary grants for the tourism department.

Briefing the media after the meeting on Tuesday, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Newly-Merged Tribal Districts Ajmal Wazir said that the cabinet approved, with minor adjustments, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Civil Administration (Public Service Delivery and Governance) Bill 2019.

Under this law, Wazir said that the government will appoint additional commissioners at the divisional level. These officials will operate under the divisional commissioners while the chief minister will be authorised to set up committees — chaired by officers of relevant departments and containing public representatives, heads of district and tehsil administration — to ensure good governance and better public service delivery.

Under this setup, Wazir said that deputy commissioners will maintain the registered record of government land in their respective districts and prevent misuse or occupation of government property.  Further, deputy commissioners will set up Complaint Management Cell at the district level to address public grievances on property issues. These complaints will be sent to the Automated Management Cells of the federal, provincial and district government cells.

These cells will send public complaints to the relevant departments for disposal within a specified time.

Moreover, district administration officers will be empowered to carry out their duties under the K-P Public Property (Removal of Encroachment) Act 1977 and will enjoy all powers listed under Section 10 of the law. They will also be empowered to inquire about the quality of any public facility and order for its improvement

The district officers will pass on information on important issues to the deputy commissioners who will, in turn, forward comprehensive reports to the relevant commissioners for onward reporting to the provincial government. However, divisional commissioners will directly submit reports to the provincial government.

Wazir further said that commissioners will inform the establishment department and senior government officials regarding all divisional administrative affairs.

No rally, gathering, or protest will be allowed in public space without prior approval of the deputy commissioner. To maintain law and order and to protect public property, the deputy commissioner can seek assistance from the concerned district police officer.

The government can also constitute an oversight board comprising serving or retried officers, civil society members to probe reports of misappropriation, violation of rules, or any action against the public interest.

Wazir said that the government, under the proposed law, will issue a code of conduct to ensure transparency in the new mechanism. DCs will report pm the performance of their staff to the commissioner while the commissioner will periodically report to the government to ensure transparency. Failure to provide the reports will merit action against such officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2019.