LG representatives ask govt to release funds.

MARDAN/MANSEHRA -- Local government representatives on Friday warned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to release development funds and restore their powers so they could serve the people of their respective areas in efficient manner.

In Mardan, elected LG representatives held a protest rally from city local council building to the office of commissioner to press the government for giving them their powers and funds.

The protesters led by Mardan city mayor Himayatullah Mayar advocate included elected representatives from ANP, PTI, PPP, PML-N, JUI-F, JI and other political parties and independents.

Addressing the participants near the commissioner's office, Mr Mayar said the local body elections were held phase-wise on Dec 19, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

Mardan mayor says due funds for last and current fiscal years not issued yet

He lamented that the local governments had not been issued funds in financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 in accordance with the Provincial Finance Commission Award and budgetary allocations of the provincial government.

He recalled that about nine offices of different departments had been devolved to the tehsil local governments, but none of these offices could be established at the tehsil level.

He said that contrary to devolution plan the deputy commissioners were empowered to sanction developmental, non-developmental and salary budgets of these offices for the current financial year.

He also criticised the government for snatching the administrative and financial authority of the elected representatives of the local governments in violation of Articles 32, 37(i) and 140A of the Constitution.

Representatives of other political parties also expressed similar...