Murree, Talagang granted autonomy

Move gives autonomy to five districts, seven tehsils created over the past three years

RAWALPINDI:

In the new provincial budget, Murree and Talagang have been included as independent autonomous districts within the Rawalpindi division. The government has decided to grant full autonomy to all five districts and seven tehsils created over the past three years, with separate development budgets allocated for each.

Earlier, these new districts were operating in an inconsistent manner, often described as being run on a "half partridge-half quail" basis, reflecting administrative incompatibility.

To date, all the government departments in any of the new districts are neither autonomous nor do they have district and sessions judges. Separate special districts were not included for these new districts in the budget for the current financial year 2024-25. This decision was formally communicated to the deputy commissioners of all the new districts and the commissioner of the new Gujarat Division.

This decision has also sparked a wave of joy among the elected members of the new districts. With one new division, five new districts and seven new tehsils, Punjab now consists of 10 divisions, 41 districts and 156 tehsils. The Rawalpindi division consists of 24 tehsils of six districts, Rawalpindi, Murree, Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Talagang. In terms of the number of districts and tehsils, Rawalpindi has become the largest division in Punjab, surpassing Lahore, which now ranks second.

Lahore Division has four districts, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and 22 tehsils. Gujranwala Division has three districts, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Narowal and has 11 tehsils. Gujarat Division (this new division has been created) has four districts, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad and 12 tehsils. Multan Division has four districts, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal and 14 tehsils.

Sahiwal Division consists of seven tehsils of three districts Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara. Bahawalpur Division consists of 15 tehsils of three districts Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan. Dera Ghazi Khan Division consists of 16 tehsils of six districts Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu. Faisalabad Division consists of 17 tehsils of four districts Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh.

Sargodha Division consists of 18 tehsils of four districts Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar. The largest number of districts is in the Rawalpindi Division and Dera Ghazi Khan Division. The largest number of tehsils is in the Rawalpindi Division and the Lahore Division. The new districts will receive a special grant, including the annual development budget. Their members of the National and Provincial Assembly will receive development funds of Rs100 million.