KARACHI, Dec 1: Governor Sindh Muhammedmian Soomro said here on Saturday that Naib Nazims have a key role to play in the new system of local government.

Addressing the Naib Nazims from across the province, at the governor‘s house, he called upon them to play their role in creating a balance in the system.

The governor said that as the heads of elected councils, the Naib Nazims had to work for safeguarding interests and resolving problems of all the people without any discrimination.

He pointed out that under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance the responsibilities and powers of Naib Nazims had been determined and this was essential for monitoring of the system and to keep it moving in the right direction.

He said steps should be taken to solve the problems of people at the local level and there should be regular exchange of views within the council on all these matters.

Governor Soomro also urged institutionlization of all the matters, improving tax collection and bringing the expenditures and other financial matters under control and discipline.

Dewan Muhammad Yousuf Farooqui, minister for local government in his address said that the house committees, under the Naib Nazims, could play an effective role in running the new system. The committees should operate in a manner so that the working of the councils is made more transparent.

Provincial chief secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain assured the Naib Nazims that administrative officials would extend them every possible cooperation.

Secretary local government Qamar-u-Zaman, responding to various queries, defined the local government laws. He said that rules had been finalised for the enforcement of laws regarding the local government and the same would be made available soon, and the warrant of precedence for elected representatives would also be released shortly.

The Naib Nazims were informed that the Sindh government had sanctioned Rs15.174 million as a share of local councils of the province in property and betterment taxes, and these funds had been released.— PPI/APP