PML-N resolute to protect existing LG system.

Byline: Sajid Zia

LAHORE -- The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is determined to protect the existing local government system in Punjab adopting every legal and political means.

The PML-N has already announced that it will not allow the PTI government to roll back the existing local government system which comprises over 90 per cent representatives from the former ruling party in Punjab.

At present, the PTI is going ahead with a fresh drafting of the local government law on the premise that it will make the people's representatives at the grass-root more powerful and vocal in addressing the public woes. The PTI says that current local government system, which the PML-N government had brought in with the delay of over five years after the Musharraf-introduced was abolished in August 2009, has miserably failed to deliver to the need of the hour. The PTI-proposed local government system has also got a go ahead by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab local government ministry under senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan who is quite busy with the nitty gritty of the proposed law. Reportedly, the PTI government despite intentions to bring the LG law to the Punjab Assembly with least possible delay, still needs time to streamline the proposals about the number of tiers it desires to retain in the new law as it was showing little interest in keeping the district councils and concur it with that of KP's.

The PML-N Punjab government, during the two years of the existing local government system, made annual budgetary allocation of about Rs300billion for spending through the local governments but development works and effectiveness of the system remained a farce since the funds were utilized either by high-ups and authorities set up with overwhelming representation of the bureaucrats or the administrative officers. That is why, since inception, the vice chairmen of the local governments at every level have been dissatisfied with the distribution of powers and funds. They have been protesting on many occasions in this regard.

The local government system is a good source for a political party to firm itself up at the grass-roots level and broaden its support by solving the public problems of petty nature at their doorsteps and through the representatives who are from among them and available on a call. But that benefit...