Transition: Early release of funds ordered for local governments

LAHORE:

Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has directed the Finance Department to make arrangements for early release of funds for the metropolitan corporation of Lahore, district, tehsil and union councils.

Addressing a meeting on Tuesday, the minister said special measures should be taken to ensure early release of funds and smooth transition of power to local governments.

The Local Government and Community Development Secretary Khalid Masood Chaudhry told The Express Tribune provincial and divisional committees were making arrangements for smooth transition of power to elected local governments.

He said the date of transition and constitution of the local governments had not been finalised. He said the date would be decided by the chief minister. He said the transition schedule would be finalised once the local government elections were complete.

Meanwhile, he said, the government would complete all legal and procedural formalities. Responding to a question, Chaudhry said health and education authorities would be constituted once the new local governments were in place.

“Initially, the government might appoint an administrator for these authorities. The exact form of these authorities will be finalised after the transition is complete,” he added.

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