New LG system to empower people at grassroots level: Aleem

Senior Provincial Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said that new system of local bodies in Punjab would be aimed at trickling down the empowerment at grass root level due to which maximum development work could be ensured in union councils in urban & rural areas.
While presiding over high-level follow up meeting here on Saturday, Abdul Aleem Khan He said that people's representatives would be given financial and administrative powers so that they can come up to the public aspirations in minimum time with maximum performance.
He said that during last 10 years local bodies remained suspended due to wrong intentions of the then rulers who did not want to leave even a single power. The present government has great commitment to the local bodies institutions and due to its importance so far four meetings have been presided over by him in one week, he said.
He said that it is crystal clear that as per the manifesto of PTI and vision of Imran Khan, no development fund would be given to any MNA or MPA. He asked the officers of local bodies department to prepare recommendations on the pattern of Local Bodies Commission for establishing set up for the strict monitoring of new representatives and their developmental work.
He said that Punjab Government would try its level-best to bring more affective and comprehensive system in Punjab so that it can play role model for others. He directed the officers to prepare parallel recommendations for the approval of the Prime Minister in which there may be some alternate also.
Abdul Aleem Khan said that he would be meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan soon and after his approval further work would be finalized. He said that limit of developmental budget, jurisdiction of union council and direct election of mayor or district head are the core issues to be resolved in the new local bodies system and the final decision would taken with the consultation with the elected representatives.
Secretary Local Government Arif Anwar Baloch briefed the Senior Minister Punjab and said that systems of other countries have also been studied and new system having veto power with the district head is also under consideration.