LAHORE: Local councils asked to display statements - Financial position
By Intikhab Hanif
LAHORE, Aug 25: The Punjab government has asked all local councils to immediately display statements of their monthly and annual accounts for public inspection.
The directive has been issued in view of the government's unsatisfactory control over the financial affairs of the local councils, official sources informed Dawn on Wednesday.
They said all local councils were required to display at conspicuous places the statements of their monthly and annual accounts under section 114(5) of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001 to keep an eye on their financial affairs through public. But, they said, none of the local councils had ever done so.
According to a letter sent to all councils, the finance department has maintained that the mandatory requirement was not being observed, disallowing the respective account committees of the councils to hold public hearings as required under section 114(6) of the ordinance and to take appropriate action in the prescribed manner.
The letter has asked the councils to carry out the legal requirements in letter and spirit to enable the public to be aware of the financial affairs of the local governments with regard to its propriety and accountability.
Copies of the letter have been sent for compliance to all the district Nazims, DCOs, EDOs (finance and planning), tehsil and town Nazims, tehsil and town municipal officers, TOs (finance), union secretaries (union accountants) and union administrations in the province.
LAND RECORD: The land revenue record in the Punjab is being speedily computerized to eliminate the role of patwaris and facilitate people in the transfer and registration of property, and other matters.
This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday. Prominent among others were revenue minister Gul Hameed Rokhri, chief secretary Kamran Rasool, Planning and Development chairman Salman Ghani and BoR senior member Safdar Javed Syed.
The chief minister said the system of the transfer of property and revenue collection was being made transparent by computerizing the land revenue record. Under the new system, the property rights of people could be fully protected and the disputes about property minimized.
He said the correct verification of the revenue documents would restore the confidence of banks into their papers. It would also improve the working of the revenue department and introduce transparency in its affairs.
Safdar Javed briefed the participants on the revenue system reforms in the province. The information technology secretary presented progress report of the computerization of the revenue record.
