PTI nazims briefed on responsibilities

CM assures them they can make postings, transfers

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said newly-elected Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf nazims are expected to curb corrupt practices, maintain discipline and ensure effective use of development funds.

This was stated in a handout issued by the CM’s Secretariat on Sunday. According the document, Khattak was addressing PTI district and tehsil nazims at CM House.

During the moot, the chief minister said the party’s future performance in the province would largely depend on the performance of nazims.

Devolving powers

“Khattak told the nazims about the provincial government’s reforms and the primary objectives of the devolution of power under the local government system,” read the statement. “He said most of the powers of the chief executive and the cabinet had been transferred to the local level.”

The CM dispelled the impression that the provincial government did not allow nazims to exercise the powers of posting and transfers in the devolved departments.

Khattak said cabinet members could not delegate powers they did not possess. He ensured the rules of business for the local government would be formally approved soon. The chief minister hoped the rules would provide foolproof procedures for district governments.

He said transfers of teachers of government schools were banned by the government and a comprehensive law was being considered to make postings permanent. He said the availability of teachers in government schools could be guaranteed through the legislation.

Khattak said the same approach will be introduced in the health department to overcome the shortage of doctors and other medical professionals in the public sector.

“Local governments would have to work as the ‘B Team’ of the administration,” stated the handout. “They will have to monitor devolved departments such as education, health, police and revenue.”

Overhaul

The CM briefed the nazims about the government’s zero tolerance for corruption or complacency.

“A strict monitoring and technology-based vigilance mechanism will be introduced to check the performance of government departments,” read the statement. “Any kind of nepotism or favouritism will ruin the system which was devised as a result of the provincial government’s hard work.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2015.