Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that it was the will of the PPP government that local bodies elections were held in Karachi, despite certain socio-political issues, and precarious law and order situation. He was addressing a seminar on Local Government System organized by the Local Government Department at CM House on Saturday. The seminar was attended by all the chairman and vice chairman of local councils, including deputy mayor Karachi and other concerned.
He said that there was strong opposition to hold local bodies election in the city. "No doubt the law and order situation was precarious at that time, certain socio-political issues had emerged. It was political commitment and will of PPP government in Sindh that the local bodies elections became possible in Karachi," he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah added that the present local government Act 2013 was passed by Sindh assembly, and there was public will and wisdom into it, that's why everyone gives it ownership, otherwise all the previous local government laws were imposed by the dictators with the objectives to strengthen their position by eroding the authority and writ of the provincial government.
He said that he was taking necessary steps to strengthen local bodies so that problems could be solved at the gross root level. "The local government department mandate is to provide support to the local councils in the areas of administration, finance and human resource management. The process of relocation of staff, distribution of assets and liabilities, distribution of OZT share and posting of staff in the newly created local councils at the completion stage," he said.
It may be noted that there are 1744 local councils in the province, of them 1199 are in the rural areas and rest in the urban areas. There are nine municipal corporations, one metropolitan corporation, 37 municipal committees, 147 town committees, 351 union committees in the urban area and 24 district council and 1175 union councils.
The chief minister clarified that the local councils have to work under the overall supervision of Sindh government as per legal framework provided in the Act of 2013. He added that without financial viability, the local councils could deliver the desired results, therefore they would have to take initiatives for the generation of resources and create efficient system of checks and balances internally.
He announced that the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) has been constituted and notified by the government. "The PFC is a recommendatory body and have the mandate to make recommendations to the government for distribution of funds and other matters relating to finances of the local councils," he said.
Talking about finances of the local councils, chief minister said that in the budget 2016-17 the Octroi & Zila Tax (OZT) share has been enhanced from Rs 47 billion to Rs 60 billion. "More than Rs 37.731 billion have been provided in ADP of local government," he said and added "More grants have also been provided for settlement of electricity dues and pension liabilities of local government."
Concluding his speech, Syed Murad Ali Shah vowed to provide extra funds for construction of new buildings, repair and renovation of existing building and vehicles for chairman and vice chairman upto town committee level. The chief minister just after completing his speech went to meet the representatives of local bodies at their seats and had selfees with them. Earlier, the seminar was chaired by Minister Local Government Jam Khan Shoro.