Governance woes: Body for transition to elected local govts ‘dysfunctional’

Finance minister says committee is working on tasks assigned to it

LAHORE: A provincial transition committee formed in April to finalise arrangements for smooth functioning of elected local governments is yet to make headway in the tasks assigned to it, The Express Tribune has learnt.

A senior member of the committee told The Tribune on condition of anonymity that following its establishment on April 28 the committee had held only a couple of meetings.

He said most members got involved with flood relief and rescue activities of the provincial government after the initial meetings and no attention was paid to the tasks assigned to the committee.

A notification issued for the establishment of the committee mentions the following as its tasks: preparation of organisational chart for local governments, finalisation of parameters for distribution of assets and liabilities and human resources amongst elected local government’s departments and provincial government’s authorities and departments concerned; determining a one-time transition grant for elected local governments (for their operation during the first year); monitoring implementation of the interim Finance Commission Award; and finalising organisational hierarchy for newly proposed district education and health authorities. The committee was also asked to suggesting a date for repeal of the Local Government Ordinance (PLGO) of 2001 and to ensure complete implementation of the Local Government (Amended) Ordinance of 2015.

Similar transition committees were to be established at divisional- and district- levels. The provincial committee, headed by the assistant chief secretary, was required to oversee operations of the divisional and district transition committees.

Asked how the provincial government planned to ensure completion of tasks assigned to the transition committee, Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha dismissed the suggestion that the transition committee were not performing their tasks.

She said the committee had started working on the tasks and progress would be visible once local government elections were held.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.