Guidelines issued for opening bank accounts for local bodies
By the end of Jan-Mar 2021 quarter, the banking industry had deployed 16,175 ATMs in the country, exhibiting an increase of 134 ATMs in the quarter. PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab local government department has issued guidelines to chief officers of the metropolitan corporations, municipal corporations, municipal committees, and district councils regarding the opening of new bank accounts immediately.
The transfer of funds in the new accounts will be done under four heads, including general-purpose, development funds, pension funds, and general.
The employees of the local government bodies have also not yet received their salaries because of the non-opening of new bank accounts.
Meanwhile, all chairmen of union councils (UCs) have been provided with the related staff, however, the bank accounts have not been opened yet while Nadra has not provided the software for verification of death and birth certificates as well.
The offices of UCs’ chairmen have not become operational so far. UC chairmen said the bureaucracy wants to drag on until December 31 when their tenure will end.
On the other hand, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Mayor Sardar Naseem Khan has sought details of sources of income, expenditures on development projects and position of the local government budget.
The local bodies have not become fully operational even after 16 days of restoration considering the orders of the Supreme Court (SC).
Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Mayor Sardar Naseem Khan has not turned up at the office except for one day after resuming the charge on October 17.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2021.