RMC back in the saddle again
A file photo of RMC offices
The status of Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) has been restored in the truest sense. The number of union councils (UCs) has been reduced from 70 to 46, while 24 UCs have been made part of the district council.
The corporation has resumed planning for development projects, and reshuffling of administrative responsibilities. The process of returning assets to 24 UCs has begun, while the elected chairmen of 24 UCs will also approve a budget of over Rs6 billion for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The budget includes an Rs3 billion income, and Rs3.78 billion worth of original works development schemes.
Read Rawalpindi admin approves tourism master plan
The RMC’s Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) will now be Chief Officer Deputy Municipal Officer, while Tehsil Council Officers will be Chief Officers.
According to sources, the restored elected representatives will serve until December 2021, in light of the orders by the Supreme Court.
In this regard, RMC Mayor Muhammad Naseem Khan said the elected bodies were illegally dissolved in 2019. Khan added that the elected representatives of local bodies should be allotted extra time to compensate for the time wasted because of dissolution.
He said the matter will be raised before the SC as it is the right of the elected representatives to complete their tenure attained through public mandate.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2021.