The outgoing year 2024 proved to be extremely disappointing and frustrating for local government bodies as the municipal corporation, the municipal committees, the district council and town committees in Rawalpindi could not initiate even a single new mega project throughout the year, thanks to 'severe' economic and financial crunch.
Projects under the Annual Development Fund (ADP) were also put on hold because of the paucity of funds throughout the year. Funds were released to local government bodies only for the salaries of their employees.
Adding insult to injury, local government bodies were also deprived of their public representatives in the last four years as local government elections in Punjab could not be held due to repeated changes in the Local Government Act.
There is currently no local government system in Punjab as the Local Government Act 2022 framed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, has been suspended by the PML-N government. The ill-fated local government system is under the control of administrators.
The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and the Assistant Commissioners (ACs) joined duties in the local government institutions several times throughout the year, but couldn't initiate major exercise because of their 'busy schedules'.
In 2024, the District Council Rawalpindi, the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi, six municipal committees and one town committee sent 410 development schemes worth over Rs6.95 billion for the development of Rawalpindi city and rural areas. However, funds were not released and the files of these development schemes remained in the files.
The funds were not released for the projects of roads, new water supply schemes, new sewage systems, boundary walls of cemeteries, four mini dams, eight ponds, five funeral homes, 17 water funds, filtration plants, and 193 drains and streets.
However, work was initiated only on the schemes proposed by the lawmakers with arranged funding.
The Coordination Committee Chairman, MNA Qamarul Islam and MPA Ziaullah Shah claim the issue of funds for development schemes and projects of local bodies will be resolved soon. A new Local Government Act will also be passed at the beginning of the New Year, after which record funds will be released to local bodies, they add.
Despite the setbacks in 2024, there is hope for change in the coming year. Local government officials, including MNA Qamarul Islam and MPA Ziaullah Shah, have assured that the funding issues for development schemes will be addressed promptly. They also stated that a new Local Government Act will be introduced early in the New Year, which is expected to bring substantial financial support for local bodies. With these changes, local government bodies are optimistic about overcoming the challenges of the past year and resuming vital development projects for the betterment of Rawalpindi's infrastructure and public services.
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