‘LGs to be given resources under next PFC formula’
Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said on Sunday that resources will be distributed to district governments under a regular formula of the next Provincial Finance Commission (PFC). “Furthermore, the local government (LG) funds will be increased and the scope of powers will be expanded in order to improve the delivery of services at the local level.”
The minister expressed these views during a meeting on Provincial Financial Awards with Deputy Chairperson Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan at the finance department.
Finance Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Planning and Development (P&D) Secretary Imran Sikandar and other finance department officers were present on the occasion.
The minister instructed that alternative sources of investment will be introduced for the provision of civic amenities in backward areas. “Accountability will also be ensured along with technical assistance to local agencies for the proper use of resources.”
Additionally, the areas with natural resources will be given a share in royalties and profits.
Similarly, recommendations from local governments will be given priority for development work under district-level projects in the districts.
The Provincial Finance Commission will set out procedures in accordance with the law to audit expenditure at the local level, the finance minister highlighted.
He informed the deputy chairperson that a 17-member Local Government Finance Commission notification was issued. “The government officials, opposition, local representatives and four technical members were included in it. Further, there were also plans to set up a specialised secretariat for the finance commission.”
The Punjab government was introducing plans for poverty alleviation and provision of basic amenities for equitable development in the province along with enhancing the capacity of local governments, he stated. “In this regard, the Human Capital Development Project was noteworthy. Hospitals and healthcare centres were being set up at district and tehsil level to reduce the mortality rate of pregnant women and newborns.”
Expressing satisfaction over the steps taken to provide resources to the district governments in Punjab, the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted the provision of services at public level and a positive response from the administration.”
To this end, the efficiency of the district governments was being improved, he added.
The provincial minister directed P&D Board secretary to make the Punjab Statistics Agency more functional and instruct it to provide the relevant statistics to all the departments concerned.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2020.