Mardan mayor seeks funds, powers for LG reps

MARDAN: The mayor of Mardan, Himayatullah Mayar, has written a letter to the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, asking him to solve the issues of the local government representatives regarding funds and powers.

In the letter, the mayor congratulated him on his election as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that all tiers of local governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were facing challenges and issues pertaining to their powers, functions, and funds.

He requested an early meeting of representatives in the presence of ministers and secretaries of Local Governments, Law, Finance, and P&D under the chief minister’s chairmanship.

The main issues highlighted in the letter include the restoration of the Local Government Act 2019 with drafted rules of business 2021, ensuring consistency with LGA 2019. The secretaries of local governments and Lawmakers were urged to release funds to tehsil/city/metropolitan local governments and village and neighborhood councils.

The mayor noted that the tehsil local governments and TMAs, as well as VC/NC, are dysfunctional due to the non-availability of funds, resulting in a halt in the delivery of social and municipal services.

He pointed out that the local governments and VC/NC councils in the merged districts lack offices, human, and logistical resources, which should be addressed on a priority basis.

Also, he said the elected representatives are deprived of rightful legal honoraria and other benefits since assuming office. The letter further highlighted that although the rent of offices of VC/NC has been enhanced, the notification issued has not been implemented. “Movable and immovable properties of tehsil and city local governments have been occupied or possessed by other departments or officers, which should be handed over to the respective local governments as per the Local Government Act,” he added.

In addition to certain other demands, the chief minister was requested to extend the tenure of local governments for two more years due to dysfunctionality in the previous two years.