KARACHI: Local govt system lacks full fiscal powers
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, April 1: The new local government system is facing difficulties because of financial constraints and want of technical and qualified staff.
Administrative and fiscal powers have not been not fully transferred to the lowest tier of the local government as envisaged by the SLGO 2001. This is more obvious at the Tehsil-level municipal administration, official sources say.
In view of reports from the lower tiers of the local government system, a working paper is being prepared for presentation to the authorities to overcome difficulties.
The local mobilisation for the new system has turned out to be inadequate in financing target expenditures; its service delivery is becoming questionable as the TMAs do not have adequate financial resources with no funds from the urban council except the KPP funds being made available by the district government meant for municipal schemes only, according to the sources.
Besides, the major share of public sector expenditures in social services go towards management of facilities, and development of additional facilities receives a minor share.
The institutional arrangement, even after decentralisation, depends on the civil service in various forms, for optimal service delivery, for proper training and trained manpower; the earlier weaknesses affecting the functioning of the institution continue.
The sources say that delays in fiscal transfers from district provincial accounts to the TMAs have resulted in huge liabilities with regard to salary and pension arrears. The new system, in addition to fiscal problems, continues to lack qualified and trained staff for various positions including the posts of TO (planning), and for managing infrastructure projects/schemes.
The sources say that reluctance on the part of the city government to transfer certain functions to the TMAs in accordance with the SLGO is hampering proper service delivery.
Elected representatives appear disillusioned and the common man continues to suffer for want of potable water supply, sanitation, education, transport, health and environment facilities. Elected councillors complain that they have neither funds nor powers to move the administrative machinery.
Even the heads of the local government, the Nazim and the Naib Nazim, were not transferred full financial powers in accordance with the SLGO, and even those inadequate powers were withdrawn on July 1st, 2002.
The insiders are reportedly of the view that reports of misuse of financial powers by elected representatives in favour of the parties they belong to are being floated by vested interests that do not want the new system to succeed, and the situation has resulted in the issuance of an amendment in the SLGO for taking away the remaining powers with no consideration to the fact that under the new system the monitoring committees of the union councils are bound to form citizens community boards in urban and rural areas which will be empowered to undertake community development with official recognition and cost sharing.
The citizens themselves are empowered through these boards to create or improve their infrastructure or upgrade services. Transparency and empowerment have been strengthened through the citizens community boards which will provide information to the monitoring committees of the union councils, Tehsil councils.
According to the sources, the local government authorities are in favour of special grants to the TMAs which are without octori grant, and of evolving a mechanism to ensure direct fiscal transfers from the province to the councils.
