Amendments to LG Act signal sweeping changes

Meeting proposes new governance structures

LAHORE:

A significant meeting chaired by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq at the Civil Secretariat focused on the proposed Punjab Local Government Amendment Act.

The session saw participation from key officials, including Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Special Secretary Asia Gul. Additional Secretary Arshad Baig provided an in-depth briefing on the proposed amendments to the Local Government Act.

The meeting deliberated on the roles and scopes of various local bodies, including the Metropolitan Corporation, Town Corporation, and Municipal Committee. Minister Zeeshan Rafiq highlighted a notable proposal in the draft: cities with a population exceeding 700,000 would be designated as "big cities".

He also mentioned that tehsils would be recognized as individual units under the new system, with the Punjab government proposing the establishment of a tehsil council in every tehsil for the first time.

Rafiq emphasised that the exact number of union councils would be determined following the demarcation process based on the recent census. He assured that women, minorities, peasants, workers, and youth would be given representation at all levels of the local government structure. The minister noted that these amendments aim to empower local governments, enabling them to address public issues more effectively at the grassroots level.

Highlighting the commitment of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to a stable and enduring local government system in Punjab, Rafiq stated that detailed work on the new draft law is being conducted under her directives.

He also stressed the importance of aligning local government structures with population growth to meet development goals and public expectations.

Following Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's approval, the draft will be forwarded to the provincial cabinet for further action.

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

The government wanted to reinstate the former Local Government Act of 2013, originally enacted during the tenure of then-Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, albeit with slight modifications.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