New LG system on the cards for Islamabad

A new draft of the Islamabad Local Government Act 2021 has been prepared which sought to split the federal capital into metropolitan and neighbourhood zones.

Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar presided over a meeting to review the Islamabad Local Government Act 2021.

It was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan, MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, the law secretary and other officials.

The participants were informed that the recommendations of the Local Government Act 2021 have been drafted under which Islamabad will be split into two sections.

One section will be Metropolitan Islamabad while the other one will be Neighborhood Council.

In addition to the directly elected mayor, the metropolitan corporation will have a total of 70 members, the meeting was told.

There will be 45 general seats and 10 for women, three each for youth, minority, traders, labourers, farmers and senior citizens.

The draft said that 25 special seats will be given to the elected mayor while the remaining 45 will be given in proportion to the votes every mayor candidate will get.

The participants were told that Islamabad will consist of 100 neighbourhood councils.

There will be five reserved seats including two for women, and one each for youth, minority, and senior citizens to be chosen by the elected chairperson.

There will be a direct election for four councillors apart from the chairperson.

The participants were apprised that implementation of all future development schemes of Islamabad, planning, and including the Islamabad master plan will be overseen after by the local government while CDA will act as a regulator.

Of the 67 directorates from CDA, 56 directorates will be shifted from metropolitan Islamabad to the local government along with 11 of 17 departments of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Asad Umar said that a powerful and authorised local government system is being introduced in Islamabad as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said the new system will help serve the citizens at their doorsteps.

The minister also directed to expedite the work on the draft of the Local Government System Act of Islamabad.

The first ever local government elections in Islamabad were held in November 2015. After the the elections, the mayor and deputy mayors belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz were elected in March 2016.

However, the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) headed by the PML-N mayor Anser Aziz failed to deliver after both PML-N and the PTI governments did not pay any heed to its empowerment. The local government completed its five-year term in February this year without any contribution.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2021.