Balochistan govt allocates Rs 16.8 billion grant for local councils.

QUETTA -- The Balochistan government has allocated a grant of Rs 16.8 billion for local councils, including Rs 10 billion as a development fund in the budget 2022-23 to strengthen the local government system.

In order to strengthen the local government system, the provincial government has working for the formation of the local body to formalize effective implementation and transformation of the real power at grassroots level.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the second phase of local government (LG) elections will be held on August 28 in Balochistan. As per the notification LG polls will be held in Quetta, Lasbella, union councils (UC) 4, 9, 15 and 16 of Musakhail, UC 12, 13, 14, 27 of Mustung, UC 26 in Jaffarabad and several UCs of Duki, Chaghi and Zobe districts.

Balochistan had completed the first phase of the local government (LG) polls to elect over 6,000 general councilors.

Talking to reporter an official of Balochistan government said a strong and empowered local government system would contribute to work on ground level. He assured government's full support for providing the basic framework which was pre-requisite for the success of local governments.

In all Union Councils, 33 percent seats have been allocated for women, 5 percent for farmers and workers, 5 percent seats for non-Muslims in the Local Government system.

He said a strong and...