18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 17: Adviser to the CM on Local Government Waseem Akhtar has said that MPAs, Nazims and councillors can make the new local government system effective and successful through their mutual cooperation.

In this regard, seminars and workshops are essential and prove useful in introducing the new system, he said while addressing a workshop on Determination of Responsibilities: Problems and Possible Solutions, held at a hotel here on Tuesday.

The workshop was organized by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) for the training of MPAs and local governments representatives.

In his presidential address, Waseem Akhtar described the holding of such workshops as very useful in developing mental and administrative skills of those functioning under the local government system. He called for organizing of such workshops in all the provinces.

He pointed out that the district government system in the country was in its initial stage and its promotion, as well as mutual consultation and cooperation, would bring about an improvement in governance at national and provincial levels.

The CM's adviser observed that the traditional system in the province would see a change gradually as attitudes of waderas and chaudheries would also transform slowly. Therefore, he added, educated people would have to come forward and make the system effective.

He held out the assurance that better performance would bring about an improvement in the safety commission whereas the SLGO would continue to be amended and upgraded with public consultations.

Mr Akhtar said that alongside Nazims and councillors at every level, MPAs too kept sending their suggestions and recommendations which were forwarded to the National Reconstruction Bureau.

He requested the workshop participants to serve the interests of the country and province by remaining above their political affiliations. In response to a query, the adviser explained that supervision of the working of Nazims was his responsibility and that the Nazim of Orangi Town had been removed after corruption charge against him had been proved.

Earlier, chairman of the NRB, Mr Daniyal Aziz, described holding of the workshop as very beneficial and said that the country would not progress unless system was changed.

He pointed out that politics in the past used to be subservient to bureaucracy and administrative decisions used to be taken by commissioners and deputy commissioners. However, he added, a system of check and balance was there now involving association of people with the system.

He said that the outcome of the workshop proceedings would facilitate the evolution of a future line of action. Speaking on the occasion, former Nazim of Multan District and MNA, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said the government had decided to fully review the district government system so that weaknesses, wherever found, could be removed.

He said this system had been introduced to reform the depressions of the previous system so that problems could be resolved there and then. The workshop was attended by 22 MPAs besides the MNA and many prominent figures. -APP