KARACHI: Local govt system continues to face problems
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, May 19: The new system of local government, despite three years of its implantation, continues to face teething problems as many of its key officials
are yet to reconcile with new situation providing a dominating role to the elected representatives in running the affairs of the government.
Under the new system, the role of bureaucracy has been relegated to coordination at district level by replacing them from elected Nazims who are now over-all heads in their respective districts in administration, management and development.
This changed situation continues to be a focal point of resistance from bureaucracy which is causing impediments in implementation of police reforms in letter and in spirit, fiscal devolution and devolvement of authorities pertaining to civic services, insiders say.
The provincial governments also appeared reluctant to put their full weight behind the new local government system as most of the provincial functions and powers were devolved to the local governments but not a single subject from the federal government has been decentralized to the provincial government which has created a sense of deprivation among federating units, they pointed out.
Although necessary delegation of administrative authority to the local governments has been made but some of the devolved offices of provincial government departments are still facing a dual control situation.
In order to coup with this situation, the district governments are demanding more authority over provincial employees by specifying the "authority" and "authorized officers"in accordance with the devolved setups under SRO, 2000 and E & D Rules.
In the matter of financial rules, according to a report, the EDOs at times, bypassed the district governments on many important issues, including preparation of budgets and instead found coordinating with the provincial government.
The devolvement of authority has also created a dearth of trained manpower, particularly in finance and planning, information technology, law and literacy groups which is one of the reason that the offices of TO Planning in TMAs are yet to be established.
Mushwarat committees have been formed but lack of proper frame work and want of bye laws had obstructed their functioning. District governments have been demanding formal powers over the other two tiers of the local governments.
The medium size and small towns have suffered as their already scant resources are being further spread to the areas which have now been inducted from the defunct rural union councils.
The situation is more serious in case of peripheral co-units on account of lack of elected supervision of service delivery. Therefore, it is proposed that guidelines for allocation of TMA funds for the existing municipal services and infrastructure may be issued.
District Nazims have been highlighting the inadequacy of the role of district government in the affairs relating to law and order, enforcement of laws, inspection and regulation of prisons.
A very weak functional linkage with the police has been reflected as one of the major areas of concern. District Nazims have been complaining about non-cooperation by the district police and increase in public complaints against high-handedness of the police.
In view of the existing state of affairs, district governments role on law and order and police needs to be reviewed. The National Reconstruction Bureau, the godfather to the new system, ought to come to its rescue before the year comes to a close and sort out the invisible forces responsible for creating obstacles in the way of its implanting the system on ground.
There is a need to find out why measures are being taken half- heatedly even in setting up public safety commission, district ombudsman offices, observers committees to deal with corruption.
These institutions are yet to be notified while advisory committees and local government commission were formed recently which are yet to start functioning.
