Provincial autonomy stressed for framing local bodies: local government must stay

The civil society organisations, after a series of consultations with all the stakeholders and masses on Thursday, unanimously favoured local government (LG) system saying that it must be retained with some necessary changes making it more responsive, transparent and accountable.
Speakers representing different NGOs said in a seminar that the system is a matter of controversy between the elected local bodies representatives and the newly elected democratic government demanded following changes in the local government system so that it could cater to the needs of people at grassroots level.
As per their demand, every provincial government must have full powers to frame its own local government system according to its realities with financial autonomy and there should not be any amendment in the laws governing the system without approval of provincial assemblies.
The speakers said the federal government should not meddle in local government affairs and political parties must take clear position on local government system. They must ensure its sustainability, efficacy and usefulness, they demanded. They highlighted some gaps in the local government system that have hampered its efficacy seriously and there is ample time to rectify these problems.
Further, they opined that unified local government system is not viable as every province has its own realities while district nazim is not answerable to district council, which is a lacuna in the system.
Pointing out other flaws the NGOs representatives said that union councils, especially the urban UCs have very limited functions, whereas the meaningful system of revenue generation at union council level is not in place and these councils always remain revenue thirsty. Further, they were of views that different structures given in the system such as local government commission, district ombudsman, provincial finance commission and various councils including reconciliatory councils should be formed and made effective.
The district nazim should be made answerable to district council and the function of UCs must be enhanced, they added. Moreover, they supported the local government system because it enhances the people's ownership and representation at large. Marginalised sections of the society such as religious minorities, womenfolk, peasant and workers were guaranteed fair representation in local governance, they added.
Due to local government system the bureaucracy is answerable to elected representatives, devolution from provinces to district governments took place after the launching of devolution plan, for district self government. In addition, urban areas that were previously not included in the limits of local governments are made part of this system while elected representatives are also accountable to their respective councils under this system, they added.
'We expect from democratically elected government that it would use more of its energies and resources to strengthen local government system as democratic process is incomplete without the presence of this tier of government. We also expect broad and meaningful process of consultations initiated by the new government,' they concluded.
South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK), Aurat Foundation, Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), SUNGI Development Foundation, Sustainable Development Institution (SDPI), Village Friends Organisation (VFO), Insaani Haqooq Ittehad (IHI), Workers and Peasants Councillors' Network (WPCN), Jonit Action Committee (JAC), groups of Peasant Workers from 40 districts, Network for Community Empowerment (NCE), Balochistan Co-ordinating Council (BCC), Sarhad Co-ordinating Council (SCC) and Bhit Shah Declaration Co-ordinating Council (BDCC) participated in the seminar organised at a local hotel.