No progress without accountability, says Shahbaz

Addresses LGs Leadership Convention 2017; says there will be a system of reward and punishment in new LG system; performance audit will be conducted along with financial audit

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that system of self-accountability is also necessary along with powers and resources as we cannot move forward without accountability.

He said that with the blessings of Allah Almighty and the public support, the PML-N has achieved splendid success in local governments’ elections. He said the local governments’ representatives should resolve the problems of their districts, cities and villages through their hard work and round-the-clock efforts by benefiting from the opportunity of service to the people and change the destiny of the nation and bring revolution of prosperity on the doorstep of the masses.

He said there will be a system of reward and punishment in new local governments’ system and performance audit will be conducted along with financial audit. Those displaying good performance will be encouraged while those showing poor performance will be held answerable. He said commendation certificates and additional funds will be given to LGs’ representatives displaying outstanding performance.

The chief minister said the local governments showing prominent performance in public service will be encouraged and awarded more funds on the basis of their performance. He said they will have to play their role in timely, quality and transparent completion of development projects and their consultation will also be included in these projects. Shahbaz Sharif said he has given clear instructions to district administration and police to extend all-out cooperation to the LGs representatives regarding development projects and action will be taken against them in case of any complaint in this regard.

He expressed these views while addressing LGs’ Leadership Convention 2017 at a local hotel, here Monday. Lord Mayor Lahore, mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen, vice-chairmen and district councils of the whole province attended the convention.

The chief minister said it is an opportunity of pleasure for him that he is addressing local governments’ leadership elected from all over the province and he congratulates them again. He said the young and experienced LGs leadership is a beautiful amalgamation and this is the message of prime minister for them to help the government for serving the people. He said resources and powers would be given to them for development projects; LGs funds have been increased from Rs17 billion to Rs43 billion and now they should earn the blessings of Allah Almighty through public service in this world and the world hereafter. He said we have decided to empower LGs’ representatives and we have made them strong financially and administratively and overall Rs53 billion have been given to LGs. Negotiations will be held for more power and resources, he added.

He said a committee comprising 8 to 10 elected LG representatives and government officials was being constituted which would take more decisions in this regard by holding meetings chaired by him. He said that system of self-accountability was also necessary along with powers and resources as we cannot move forward without accountability. He said that there are worst problems of dictatorship era before us.

He said that powers were given to LGs during Musharraf era and their audit was also vital every year; however, that government did not fulfill its legal responsibilities and audit of these bodies was not conducted even for one year. He said if any one tried to conduct audit of these LGs, then Musharraf taunted the officers by calling them in Governor House and said that LGs were his electoral college. As it was the desire of the dictator to run the country throughout his life through these institutions. Development funds for wrong policies were used in Attock, he added.

He said that corruption and nepotism were promoted during dictatorial period and inefficient persons recruited in these institutions. He said no doubt jobless persons should be employed but the posts should not be given to the people liked by them through misuse of development funds. He said that lakhs of persons were recruited politically in PIA, Wapda and other institutions during the period of PPP whose cases are still in the courts. He said that elimination of unemployment is foremost responsibility of the government and for this purpose planning should be made and investment and economic activities increased. He said that when we took action for conducting audit against the corruption of local bodies of dictatorial era then the persons committing corruption started protest at President House with the then president. He said that the people who looted the resources of the poor nation are enemy to the masses and they should be held accountable at all costs. He said that merit is only way to progress and the Punjab government has adopted the policy of transparency and merit in the province.

Referring to development projects, he said that first time in the history of the country Rs90 billion have been spent on the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads and the living standard of rural people have been changed through this project.