What lies ahead?: New line of governance to be adopted after LG polls

At least 23 district councils will become district governments

PESHAWAR:

Once the dust settles after the local bodies’ elections, a new line of governance will be introduced in the province at the grass-roots level.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, administrative decisions will be taken at the village level to transfer powers to the grass-roots level. As per the devolution plan under the Local Government Act 2013, a city district government will be formed with Peshawar’s four towns after LG elections are completed. This new administrative set-up will replace the Peshawar district council and municipal corporation system. There will be four town administrations in the provincial capital.

Furthermore, 23 district councils will be converted into 23 district governments across K-P.

Tehsil municipal committees

At least 61 municipal committees, which are operating in these districts, will be converted into tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs). Furthermore, 69 TMAs will be established. The number of TMAs has increased because new tehsils have been created in Torghar, Bannu and Dir districts, according to a secretary of the local government department.



Changes at district level

At the district level, a council headed by the district nazim would serve as an executive body and the deputy commissioner (DC) will be under the nazim’s supervision.

All district-level government departments will work under the DC. Each department will have a district officer who will assist the DC.

Departments which fall under the DC’s control include health, education, finance, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, among others.

The nazim will be elected by successful candidates of the district council. He must be selected from among successful district candidates.

“Any candidate who has managed to secure 51% votes will be appointed as nazim,” the  secretary told The Express Tribune. “All votes will be polled through a show of hands. A similar procedure will be adopted to select a naib nazim.”

Tehsil level

A tehsil or town council would serve as an executive body at those levels. A nazim will be elected to lead the council and the selection procedure would be broadly similar to the rules for electing a district nazim.

The tehsil nazim would be assisted by a town municipal officer and other municipal officers who must be government servants.

Office spaces

According to Local Government Secretary Jamil Ahmad, the existing district council and municipal committee offices will be given to the new councils.

“If the need arises, repairs and refurbishment will be carried out,” he said.  About the newly-created TMA offices, he said rented spaces will be provided to house them.

“We need funds worth Rs1 billion to address these needs,” Ahmed added.

The secretary said the government is also planning to set monthly honoraria for elected representatives.

Allocation of funds

According to Ahmed, 30% of the Annual Development Program of the province will be given to the local government.

He added the K-P finance department is currently managing fund allocation in the upcoming provincial budget.

“Funds distribution among the three-tiers of the local government will be made by the provincial finance commission,” he said. “This commission will be created after the LG election and appointments of nazims. Ahmad added the commission would comprise two tehsil nazims and two district nazims along with ministers and two MPAs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2015.