Sindh Tourism Minister Shazia Maree, while advocating the need to reform the local government system, argued that the mindset that ran the system is not people-friendly. "The system of local government is not acceptable for people in Sindh because the mindset behind the system is not pro-people, so it is inevitable to bring reforms in that system."
Talking to PTV, the minister said it is in the manifesto of PPP to respect the three tiers of government; federal, provincial and local system of government. The government has tried its best to strengthen the federation by giving different packages to the people of every province, regardless of their population and area, she said.
The Pakistan Peoples Party wants to strengthen the common man, for this purpose the local government system would be strengthened by rectifying its shortcomings, she added. Main fault in the previous local government system was that it bypassed the provincial assemblies, she pointed. Local government representatives did not adopt proper way to monitor the system.
The whole system worked for the achievement of few purposes but it did not work for the betterment of masses, she said. She further said during the rule of General Musharraf, the local government system was based on favouritism and nepotism which had adverse effects on the lives of common men. It was the need of the hour to bring reforms in that system by keeping benefits of the people in view, she concluded.