Underfunded LG reps to converge on capital

Will march to Adiala today to protest PTI's alleged unfair distribution of funds

PESHAWAR:

Local government representatives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have completed preparations to protest today in front of Adiala Jail and Parliament in Islamabad against the provincial government's unfair distribution of funds.

Nazims have announced that a protest will be held in the morning at Adiala Jail, and in the afternoon in front of Parliament.

According to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Councils Association Coordinator Intizar Ali Khalil, a peaceful protest movement is being initiated to demand a strong, stable, and effective local government system and to address the discriminatory treatment by the provincial government towards local bodies.

Representatives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's local councils, under the leadership of the Local Councils Association, have protested and held discussions multiple times. "However, their demands have not been met, which clearly reflects the provincial government's lack of interest," he said.

While the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's government demands justice from the federal government, it has failed to provide powers and funds to local representatives, even three years after the recent local body elections, the LG representatives believed.

"This is a blatant violation of the law and the Constitution and a deliberate attempt to marginalize local governments."

According to Intizar Khalil, a historic sit-in will commence on December 26 in Peshawar, during which chairpersons of 4,212 Village and Neighborhood Councils from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will participate alongside their respective tehsil mayors, tehsil chairpersons. Farmers, as well as members of the youth, minorities, and women members of the councils will be present. The sit-in will continue until the complete acceptance of their demands, including full restoration of the Local Government Amendment Act 2019, allocation of development funds, release of honorarium arrears, and payment of outstanding office rents for village and neighbourhood councils.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released funds for 51 tehsils, while local government representatives have protested against the non-release of funds for neighborhood and village councils.

They have called for an important meeting in Peshawar this month, According to a statement issued by the Finance Department, the funds released for the 51 tehsil councils in the province amount to Rs3.29 billion.

At the time these funds were released, Intizar Ali Khalil stated that the government ignored 4,212 village and neighborhood councils. An emergency meeting was scheduled for December 9 in Peshawar, where discussions were held regarding peaceful protests and sit-ins.

Funding village councils in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is crucial for the overall development and empowerment of local communities. These councils, as part of the local governance structure, are designed to address grassroots issues, ensure better service delivery, and promote democratic participation at the community level. However, to fulfill these roles effectively, they need adequate financial resources.

Firstly, adequate funding would enable village councils to carry out essential tasks such as maintaining local infrastructure, improving sanitation, building schools, and facilitating health services.

Many villages in K-P, especially in rural areas, face challenges related to poor infrastructure and limited access to basic amenities. Without the necessary funds, councils are often unable to initiate or sustain development projects that could significantly improve the quality of life for local populations.