Seminar: People’s participation in local governance stressed

Experts say government should indicate time frame for polls.

ISLAMABAD:

With the return of civilian rule, challenges for democratic forces to realise the importance of local governments continue to instigate public debate.

At a seminar, “Citizens’ Participation in Local Governance,” civil society representatives discussed the implications of the 18th Amendment on governance and decentralisation of democracy. They suggested the government indicate a time frame for local bodies elections.

Author of a report, “Bridging Development Deficits through Democratic Decentralisation-post 18th Amendment framework for Local Governance in Pakistan,” Amjad Bhatti of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) explained that local governance has only been seen under military regimes whose conflict with civilian governments have left us with an inadequate framework. Resultantly, a trickle-down approach has not made this process a success.

The country’s population has increased five times since independence, going up to 180 million. This makes it the world’s seventh most populous country and the most urbanised one in South Asia with around 58 million people living in cities. Having a growth rate of 2.16 percent per annum and urbanisation increasing at the rate of 3.3%, urbanites are expected to rise by 70 to 80 million by 2030, accounting for two-thirds of the population.

Bhatti said the debate over local governments must be supported by civil society. “We’re not used to owning our problems and coming up with solutions. Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are more articulate and assertive, whereas Punjab has always benefited from political systems based on centralisation,” he said.

Experts were of the view that local government being the third tier of the government, should be provided constitutional protection and people must be encouraged to engage in the process. “In the spirit of Article 140 (A) and the 18th Amendment, local governments should be given maximum political, administrative and fiscal autonomy. Fiscal imbalances must be fixed on equity and not equality basis,” Bhatti added.

Some provinces are better off than others. Assessment should be based on indicators determining need.

The event was organised by the Rural Development Policy Institute.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2013.