The MMA government in NWFP is seriously considering a new reforms proposal to improve the local government system. The objective of the change is to bring it according to the public aspiration. The recommendations in this regard are also being scrutinised at various levels.
Similarly, considerable progress has also been made to introduce land reforms on scientific grounds and computerising the land records so that people can be given rid of the exploitation of the patwaris and embezzlements in the land distribution and transfers can be checked.
It was revealed by the NWFP Minister for Local Govt and Rural Development Sardar Muhammad Idrees and Minister for Revenue, Maulana Asmatullah in a meeting at District Secretariat Timergara during their official visit of district Dir Lower.
The meeting was attended by District Nazim Ahmad Hassan Khan, Dr Zakirullah MPA, DCO Syed Muhammad Javed, DPO Khurshid Khan, district heads of various departments including LG and RD and Revenue Departments, other concerned authorities and elite of the area.
On the occasion, law and order situation in the district, pace on developmental schemes and problems faced by the people were taken into stock and necessary decisions taken.
Both the ministers on a complaint about the arrogant and negative attitude of patwaris with the people clearly warned them to rectify their attitude and facilitate the people instead of creating hardships for them. Otherwise, they cautioned that strict disciplinary action would be taken under the reward and punishment policy of MMA government. They said that the provincial government had reduced the powers of the patwaris and other officials of revenue department due to the immense public complaints and hence registration of lands was made prerequisite rather than urgent transfers to check forgery and corruption. However, they said that new viable recommendations would also be welcomed to further improve working of the Revenue Department.
They said they would perform their duties with the same religious and national zeal to restore confidence of the people on the institutions. He agreed with the proposals of District Nazim Ahmad Hassan Khan for empowering the district committees to approve developmental schemes and assured that it would be seriously considered in the forthcoming meetings of the local government commission.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Revenue Minister paid a surprise visit to the revenue offices adjacent to the District Secretariat Timergara and checked the revenue records as well as listened to the problems of the people and issued directives on the spot.