KP Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan has said that the electorates of the province will elect over 44,000 local government representatives under the Local Government Act 2013. He stated this while addressing a one-day conference on "Civil Engagements in the KP Local Government Act 2013 held at the University of Peshawar. The conference was organised by UNDP in collaboration with Local Government Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Cell for Fata Studies.
Elaborating the salient features of the KP Local Government Act 2013, he said that the number of local government representatives elected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be more than Punjab. He said that under the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC), the finances will be devolved on the basis of poverty, population, backwardness and lack of infrastructure. The commission will have four members from the district nazims.
Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Sarharwardy, Head of Cell for Fata studies, elaborated the concept and objectives of the conference. He further said that it will be the first time in the KP's history that in 24 districts, more than 42,000 public representatives will be elected. He said that the conference will highlight the definition and importance of LGs, rules of local councils, conduct of elections and rules of LG Act 2013. Syed Hyder Yahya, Local Governance Specialist of the UNDP talked about the LG Act of 2013. He said that such indigenous instruments will be a first step in the development of local government system.