DCs get greater authority as administrators

The importance and authority of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners have been increased at the divisional level across Punjab, with deputy commissioners appointed administrators of municipal corporations at divisional headquarters and additional deputy commissioners (services) appointed administrators of municipal committees at the district level.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir has assumed charge as the new administrator of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation.

Previously, divisional commissioners served as administrators of municipal corporations at the divisional level in Punjab, but the respective deputy commissioners have now been appointed administrators in their place.

The Secretary of the Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department has issued a formal notification in this regard.

Under the new arrangement, the deputy commissioner, while serving as the head of the district, will also be the administrator of the municipal corporation at the divisional headquarters level.

The administratorship of district councils was already with deputy commissioners.

However, at the district level, where additional deputy commissioners general and revenue previously served as administrators of municipal committees, additional deputy commissioners (services) have now been appointed as administrators.

The development comes ahead of the new local government elections in Punjab and is being described as a further increase in the existing control of the district administration over local government institutions.

The administrative arrangement ahead of the local government elections in Punjab is being described as a significant development.