08 January 2005	Saturday	26 Ziqa'ad 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Local governments have become a provincial issue and it is up to the provincial governments to decide what sort of changes they like to bring in the LG system, National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Chairman Daniyal Aziz said.

Talking to Dawn here on Friday, Mr Aziz confirmed that all provincial governments had decided to decrease the number of union councillors. Provincial governments argue that it is useless to have such a large number of union councillors, he added.

However, he said: "I do not agree with the proposed amendment to the local government ordinances as well as provincial governments' argument that the number of union councillors is more than required.

Since, it is a new initiative, therefore with the passage of time, they (councillors) will learn how to deliver their duties in a better way," Mr Aziz said while answering a question.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Adviser on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar on Friday assured Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that she would take up the issue of proposed amendments to LG ordinances regarding decrease in women seats with the president and the prime minister.