Training sessions for district nazims

Field experts to convene workshop on local govt system

PESHAWAR: The provincial government will arrange an orientation workshop for district nazims before they present their first budget. 

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune a two-day seminar will be held on October 5 and 6 in the city. The workshop will train district nazims about the local government (LG) system, rules of business, planning and finance. The initiative has been organised by the Local Government, Elections and Rural Development department in collaboration with the Sub-National Governance Programme (SNGP).

Grass-roots level

An official of the LG department said 23 nazims are likely to attend the workshop. “The seminar is aimed at familiarising the newly-elected nazims about the processes and procedures of the local government system in the province,” he said. “The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013 has devolved a majority of public services from the provincial government,” he said. “Over 30% of the funds have been allocated to institutions at the district and lower levels.”



According to the LG official, the devolution of powers marks a radical shift in the chain of command and management of resources. “This change puts greater responsibility on institutions at the district level to encourage development,” he added.

Show of support

During the workshop, field experts will convene a series of orientation sessions. CM Pervez Khattak will inaugurate the seminar and a large number of ministers are likely to attend. Speaking to The Express Tribune, SNGP’s provincial head, Khalid Khan, said the workshop will help district nazims learn valuable skills and interact with the CM and other ministers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.