Co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Asif Ali Zardari has said that PPP government instead of scrapping the local government system will introduce reforms for its improvement. A statement released by Zardari House Saturday, the Co-chairman dispelled speculations that local government system was being disbanded.
Pakistan Peoples Party believes in a three tier governance structure, federal, provincial and local- and local government is the tier that can deliver responsive and responsible governance to the grass roots, he said and added: "We want to empower the people through democratic institutions and help them take vital decisions about development in their respective areas themselves".
Senator Asif Ali Zardari reminded that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had come up with the vision of a new Social Contract in 1993 and it was her who wanted devolution of power to the local level.
He said that the PPP manifesto for the Election 2008 had also envisaged that primary education, basic health, water supply, sanitation, and population welfare should be looked after by the local government tier. "Our reforms will be aimed at making the Local Governments more transparent and responsive to the needs of the people",he said.
Senator Asif Ali Zardari stressed that there was a need for three tiers of the government to work in harmony and there should be clear communication lines between the local representatives and the policy makers so that the information and implementation regarding the welfare of masses can travel both ways, he added.
However, he said that as the system was not created in good faith and was used for political manipulation therefore there was a need to improve the system to make these institutions more democratic and representative in nature. PPP Co-chairman said that the new structure will be modern and efficient in line with the good governance practices in the developed world.