Punjab government has proposed to hold future local bodies elections on the party basis and to evolve a comprehensive system of check and balance. Addressing a news briefing here on Saturday, senior Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that recommendations of the cabinet committee, set up for the reconstitution of the local bodies system in Punjab, have been approved by the parliamentary party of Muslim League.
The draft has been presented before the public for further discussion so that final shape could be given to it in a democratic manner. He said that special cabinet committee set up by Punjab Chief Minister under his supervision included Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Minister for Local Government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa, Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, concerned secretaries and other senior officers who took part in the process of preparation of new draft during long meetings.
He informed that in the proposed system, local bodies' elections would be held on the party basis in future while a system would also be evolved for check and balance on the powers of Nazims. Similarly, discrepancy in rural and urban councils would also be removed while the new system would be kept free from especially financial irregularities, he added.
He informed that he also presented a resolution at the arrival of chief ministers in Lahore and approval of NFC Award in the meeting. During the media briefing, Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed informed that significant working has been made for the constitution of new local bodies system proposal and he added before giving it a final shape, it is being made public today so that prior to its final enforcement, positive changes could be made in it.
He said that Punjab government has adopted democratic way for bringing new local bodies system. He termed success of NFC Award as a historic step. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah informed that local bodies bill would be presented in Punjab Assembly and the concerned standing committee will give it the legal shape after its rectification.
Provincial Minister for local government, Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa said that positive changes would be made in new local bodies system and Punjab government will succeed in it. He said that local bodies system evolved by a dictator has failed badly while full attention is being paid to the provision of facilities to the people in the new local bodies system.