16 July 2004	Friday	27 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, July 15: The local government system needs "fine- tuning" as the application of power and authority has turned unruly in the absence of a check and balance mechanism, says NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

"We would like (to see) the new system to ... fulfil its functions and responsibilities. The present local government system has certain lacunae ... It does not correspond with the traditions of the Frontier province, therefore, we would like to recommend necessary (measures to) fine-tune it and make it conform with our traditions", he said.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting regarding poverty alleviation, power and authority of the provincial and district governments besides resolving differences among certain districts and towns.

He said that no system could work in the absence of accountability. "The provincial government is working on these lines. We have taken all members of the assembly on board in decision-making process and we want the provincial resources, flowing towards districts should not be wasted," he added.

Mr Durrani said that the provincial government wanted the district government system to evolve because the people had reposed their confidence on elected representatives.

"We should be honest and upright and we should keep the national interest supreme. We cannot afford (act upon) personal interests and there should be no differences between the district and provincial governments ... Both have to work within their defined jurisdictions because crossing the limitation could create hurdles," he said.

The meeting made certain recommendations to strengthen the district government system besides identifying major trouble spots and decided that these should be taken up with the federal government in the briefing by the four provincial chief executives.