'No local bodies elections this year'

KARACHI: There is no possibility of local government elections this year, said Federal Minister for Local Bodies and Rural Development Justice (retd) Abdur Razaq Thahim on Thursday.

Talking to the media at the Sindh Secretariat, he said the local bodies' polls will be held under the 18th amendment but the restructuring of the Election Commission is not complete.

The minister said the members of the provincial and national assemblies should ensure the development schemes in their respective areas through the local government department.

He said the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) should also be activated in the rural areas. Thahim also said the government is focussing on the repair and construction of gas, power and road projects.

On this occasion, Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed Khan informed Thahim that Rs215 million had been allocated for the construction of roads, drainage and drinking water projects.

He said that there is need of Rs800 million for the public sector development programme for 2010-11 but only Rs300 million have been earmarked for the construction and repair of roads in Hyderabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Naushahro Feroz, Khairpur, Jacobabad and Badin.