In Islamabad, LG Commission to start work on Monday
The body will monitor IMC affairs but has yet to acquire office, funds
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A high-powered commission, set up by the federal government to monitor the affairs of the metropolitan corporation in the federal capital, is expected to start work from Monday.
However, the government has yet to provide the commission with offices to work from or sanction funds.
The Interior Ministry had set up the nine-member Local Government (LG) Commission to conduct annual inspections of the local government in the federal capital — particularly the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC). The commission will report to the federal government apart from directing audits and resolve issues of the local government, IMC and union councils that they have with any other government body or departments.
The commission, which comprises three members from the government, two from the opposition, two technocrats, an ICTA officer and a secretary, has yet to acquire office space and funds to run its affairs.
Meanwhile, a member of the commission, Tayyaba Ibrahim, has already submitted her joining report to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration Chief Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed, informing him of assuming charge of the post.
The chief commissioner has subsequently sent the report to the secretary of the commission and the ICT finance director.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the rest of the members of the commission are also expected to submit their joining reports to the commission’s secretary.
To resolve the issue of office space, a senior officer of the district administration said that the ICTA is likely to give temporary office space to the commission.
The officer added that temporary offices may be set up in the local government offices located in Sector G-11. He hoped that the place will be finalised by the weekend as there is a proposal to host the temporary office of the commission at the CDA Headquarters — which Ahmed heads as its chairman.
Another issue facing the newly set up commission pertains to budget. With nearly six months left before the federal government announces allocations in its annual budget, including for the ICTA, the CDA and the IMC, any of these bodies could likely share the cost of the commission, sources said.
However, officials reminded that the CDA and the IMC remain locked in a tussle for funds.
Ever since its creation in 2015, IMC has been dependent on the CDA for funds. Sources said that at one point in time when Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz was heading the CDA, he could not finalise the issue of distribution of resource between the two organisations.
Subsequently, with the change in government and Aziz himself being forced to relinquish the charge of CDA chairman on court orders, the IMC was left powerless.
The IMC is not getting any funds from the federal government either, which left it with insufficient funds to pay sanitary workers on Christmas.
This caused the low-income sanitary workers to protest, causing an embarrassment for the government. Eventually, CDA Chairman Ahmed had to bail out the IMC by releasing Rs30 million in special funds to pay the sanitary workers.
Sources say that while the issue of office space can be resolved, the problem of funds is likely to persist.
The interior ministry has not even informed the CDA nor the IMC about measures needed to establish the new entity, sources said.
Performance issues
Amid a growing dispute between the IMC and the CDA, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had announced late in December that the cabinet has approved the formation of an LG commission.
In a media talk after a meeting of the federal cabinet, she briefed that the commission was a requirement listed in the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015.
The SAPM on information said that the federal government has taken strong exception to the poor performance of the IMC and Mayor Aziz.
After approval from the federal cabinet, the interior ministry announced the formation of the commission for five years and that SAPM on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan will be chairman of the commission.
As per a notification issued by the interior ministry on Tuesday, the commission will comprise nine members including the chairman. The other members chosen for the commission include Senator Seemi Ezdi and MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz to represent the government. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will represent the opposition in the commission.
The technocrat members include Ali Bukhari and Tayabba Ibrahim whereas the Islamabad chief commissioner will nominate a basic pay scale (BPS) grade 19 official as his representative on the body.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2020.
A high-powered commission, set up by the federal government to monitor the affairs of the metropolitan corporation in the federal capital, is expected to start work from Monday.
However, the government has yet to provide the commission with offices to work from or sanction funds.
The Interior Ministry had set up the nine-member Local Government (LG) Commission to conduct annual inspections of the local government in the federal capital — particularly the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC). The commission will report to the federal government apart from directing audits and resolve issues of the local government, IMC and union councils that they have with any other government body or departments.
The commission, which comprises three members from the government, two from the opposition, two technocrats, an ICTA officer and a secretary, has yet to acquire office space and funds to run its affairs.
Meanwhile, a member of the commission, Tayyaba Ibrahim, has already submitted her joining report to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration Chief Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed, informing him of assuming charge of the post.
The chief commissioner has subsequently sent the report to the secretary of the commission and the ICT finance director.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the rest of the members of the commission are also expected to submit their joining reports to the commission’s secretary.
To resolve the issue of office space, a senior officer of the district administration said that the ICTA is likely to give temporary office space to the commission.
The officer added that temporary offices may be set up in the local government offices located in Sector G-11. He hoped that the place will be finalised by the weekend as there is a proposal to host the temporary office of the commission at the CDA Headquarters — which Ahmed heads as its chairman.
Another issue facing the newly set up commission pertains to budget. With nearly six months left before the federal government announces allocations in its annual budget, including for the ICTA, the CDA and the IMC, any of these bodies could likely share the cost of the commission, sources said.
However, officials reminded that the CDA and the IMC remain locked in a tussle for funds.
Ever since its creation in 2015, IMC has been dependent on the CDA for funds. Sources said that at one point in time when Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz was heading the CDA, he could not finalise the issue of distribution of resource between the two organisations.
Subsequently, with the change in government and Aziz himself being forced to relinquish the charge of CDA chairman on court orders, the IMC was left powerless.
The IMC is not getting any funds from the federal government either, which left it with insufficient funds to pay sanitary workers on Christmas.
This caused the low-income sanitary workers to protest, causing an embarrassment for the government. Eventually, CDA Chairman Ahmed had to bail out the IMC by releasing Rs30 million in special funds to pay the sanitary workers.
Sources say that while the issue of office space can be resolved, the problem of funds is likely to persist.
The interior ministry has not even informed the CDA nor the IMC about measures needed to establish the new entity, sources said.
Performance issues
Amid a growing dispute between the IMC and the CDA, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had announced late in December that the cabinet has approved the formation of an LG commission.
In a media talk after a meeting of the federal cabinet, she briefed that the commission was a requirement listed in the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015.
The SAPM on information said that the federal government has taken strong exception to the poor performance of the IMC and Mayor Aziz.
After approval from the federal cabinet, the interior ministry announced the formation of the commission for five years and that SAPM on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan will be chairman of the commission.
As per a notification issued by the interior ministry on Tuesday, the commission will comprise nine members including the chairman. The other members chosen for the commission include Senator Seemi Ezdi and MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz to represent the government. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will represent the opposition in the commission.
The technocrat members include Ali Bukhari and Tayabba Ibrahim whereas the Islamabad chief commissioner will nominate a basic pay scale (BPS) grade 19 official as his representative on the body.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2020.