Representatives of the local government (LG) on Tuesday staged a sit-in outside the Chief Minister Secretariat, protesting the absence of funds and powers allocated to them.
Expressing frustration, they highlighted that the LG system had completed its two-year term, but the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government deliberately left the LGs powerless and deprived of funds, particularly after failing to secure a clear majority in the LG elections in the province.
The LG representatives commenced their protest rally from Jinnah Park, making their way to the CM Secretariat through Assembly Chowk. Chanting slogans, they accused the provincial government of following the precedent set by the previous PTI government in marginalizing local bodies.
Subsequently, the caretaker chief minister invited them for negotiations, leading to a delegation of tehsil chairmen and representatives from village and neighborhood councils meeting with the CM.
It’s worth noting that on December 15, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, directed the formulation of practical proposals to address the challenges faced by LGs in the province.
Read LG representatives to stage sit-in on 19th
He emphasized that the caretaker provincial government would take all possible steps within its mandate to prioritize and resolve the issues affecting local bodies.
During a meeting on the subject, attended by caretaker cabinet members Ahmed Rasool Bangash, Engineer Aamir Nadeem Durrani, Dr. Syed Sarfaraz Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, and administrative secretaries of relevant departments, the chief minister stressed the need to focus on concerns raised by local bodies.
Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah asserted that the establishment of offices for village and neighborhood councils in newly merged districts would be given priority attention. He committed to personally meeting with local government representatives the following week to listen to their concerns and directed concerned authorities to complete necessary preparations for the meeting.
The chief minister, deciding to provide funds for financially weak Tehsil Municipal administrations across the province, has directed the authorities concerned to immediately release the funds to such TMAs so as to enable them to meet the requirements of their non-developmental expenditures as well as payments of salaries and arrears, further directing that funds for establishing offices of the village and neighbourhood councils in the merged areas be provided on priority basis.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2023.
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