November 11, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 12, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: President Asif Ali Zardari has denied that the government intends to wind up the local government system and said that the system would continue to function, but in a radically-altered shape with changes made in agreement with the provinces.

Presiding over the first meeting on the issue at the President’s House, Mr Zardari directed the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and the law ministry to prepare a report on changes required in the system to make it more effective and public-friendly.

NRB Chairman Dr Asim Hussain briefed the president on consultations being held with all the provincial governments.

The meeting was attended by Law Minister Farooq H. Naek, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik, MNA Faryal Talpur, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Salman Farooqui and adviser to the NRB chairman Sughra Imam.

The PPP and its coalition partners, ANP, MQM, JUI-F, are said to be in favour of making changes in the local government system, and while the PML-N has also earlier demanded to abolition of the system now wants “necessary modifications”.

Under the proposed amendments, administrative powers of district nazims would be withdrawn and their role would be confined to supervising development activities.

At present, local governments are working under the federal government, but the proposed amendments will place them under the control of provincial governments.

Pakistan Muslim League-N was of the view that the district administration should not be under Nazims’ because they had failed to maintain law and order in their areas and used the executive for political ends.