Local govt revamp in the offing

Sources reveal PML-N’s intentions to reinstate the former local bodies act of 2013

RAWALPINDI:

The government led by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in Punjab has unveiled plans to once again revamp the existing local government structure in the province.

Sources reveal intentions to reinstate the former Local Government Act of 2013, originally enacted during the tenure of then-Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, albeit with slight modifications.

This move entails the abolition of the Local Government Act 2022, introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Under the previous local government framework, Punjab will see the establishment of a Metropolitan Corporation in Lahore, accompanied by a total of 17 municipal corporations, with the newly designated district of Murree set to be elevated to the status of a municipal corporation. Furthermore, the number of municipal committees will rise to 180, consequently increasing the count of district councils from 35 to 43.

It is noteworthy that Lahore will stand as the sole district without a District Council, as it will be governed by the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation. Overall, the province will host 232 local bodies, including towns. Each Union Council will comprise a chairman, vice-chairman, two lady councillors, one labour councillor, two general councillors, and one councillor each for youth and minorities, summing up to nine elected members.

During the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government under Elahi’s leadership, the Local Government Act 2022 was enacted in Punjab, leading to the establishment of 11 Metropolitan Corporations. Besides Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Gujrat, and Sialkot were designated as metropolitan areas. However, only the head of the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation held the title of lord mayor, while heads of the remaining 10 metropolitan corporations were termed city mayors. Under this Act, district councils were established in 25 districts, replacing UCs with neighbourhood councils in urban regions and village councils in rural areas. Additionally, education councils were completely abolished.

Presently, the Local Government Act 2022 remains in force in Punjab. Following the proposed overhaul of the local body system, preparations for local body elections are underway in the province. However, the PML-N government, as per the current Local Government Act of 2022, appears disinclined to conduct local elections.

Engineer Qamarul Islam, Chairman of the Rawalpindi District Coordination Committee, has disclosed that deliberations concerning the new local government system are ongoing, with significant strides expected to be achieved before the forthcoming fiscal year budget.

Published in The Express Tribune May 3^rd, 2024.