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WEEKLY
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| ‘LG system to become provincial subject after Dec 31’ |
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
By Fasahat Mohiuddin
Karachi
There will be no change in the present local government (LG) system after December 31 since it will then become a provincial subject and it will be the prerogative of provinces to retain this system or to appoint administrators.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Local Government Justice (retd) Abdul Razak Thahim while talking to The News here on Tuesday after a meeting held at Municipal Training Institute and Research (MTRI) to review the development schemes of parliamentarians.
When asked what would be the status of present LG system after December 31, he said that the summary was still pending with President Asif Ali Zardari and it needs approval to appoint administrators or retain this system. This system has protection under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution till December 31.
“Let me make it clear that after December 31 this would be purely a provincial subject and no change in the system is being made by the federal government,” Thahim said.
When asked as to why the local bodies’ election has been delayed, he said, “It is the discretion of the Election Commission of Pakistan, however, all the provinces have requested for delaying the elections owing to law and order problem.”
Answering a question about the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), he said it was now purely a political issue but after November 28 all the cases against the NRO beneficiaries could be re-opened and the Supreme Court would be in a decisive position.
Thahim said that the LG system has brought a lot of development projects with Karachi getting a fair share.
Earlier, during his meeting with government officials, representatives of KESC, local government secretaries and MTRI officials, it was pointed out that misuse of funds had been reported after October 16.
Thahim repeatedly mentioned that the ministry was facing acute shortage of funds as the Finance Department had seized funds, which has created financial crunch.
The minister had arrived from Islamabad to review Khushhal Pakistan Programme-I and People’s Work Programme 2002- 2008 and 2008 -2010.
Tahhim expressed his dissatisfaction over the schemes which remained incomplete despite the fact that Sindh Local Government Department had received the funds.
He took a similar stance with the KESC representatives and questioned, “Once you admit that funds have been received then why have the schemes have not been completed?”
The minister said it was a pathetic situation that he gets funds form prime minister and transfer them to local bodies but the development schemes remain incomplete.
He asked the officers concerned to coordinate with the monitoring team of federal government so that a comprehensive list can be prepared as to how many schemes have been completed and where the funds got lapsed.
The minister also expressed concern with the Sui Southern Gas official that despite release of funds development schemes remained incomplete.
He asked special secretary local government to visit the areas and prepare a report to fix responsibility in this regard.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
