Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday has given approval to the draft proposals of new local bodies system at a high level meeting. Special attention has been paid to transparency and solution of people's problems at their doorstep under the new system.
Provincial Minister for Local Government and Law, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Minister for Agriculture, Dr Farrukh Javed, Minister for Education, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, elected representatives, Chief Secretary and Secretaries of concerned departments were present in the meeting. Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan threw light on the salient features of the draft of Punjab Local Government Bill 2013.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government wants to hold local bodies elections as soon as possible and therefore, given approval to the draft proposals of Punjab Local Government Bill which will now be presented before the standing committee of Punjab Assembly. The Chief Minister said that new local bodies system will be helpful in resolving people's problems at their doorstep. He said that transparency has been given top priority in the new local bodies system.
He said that separate authorities will be established for education and health sectors while reconciliation councils will be formed for resolving disputes at the lower level in the cities. He said that there is also a proposal to introduce Punchayat system in villages. Similarly, he said, a proposal is under consideration to introduce the system of municipal police in cities. The CM said that local government system is essential for solution of people's problems at the local level however, side by side with authority, a check and balance system is also necessary.