LAHORE: Speakers at the launch of the Association for Development of Local Governance (ADLG) have sought that the article 140-A of the Constitution, which ensures political, financial and administrative authority and responsibilities for the elected local government representatives, should be implemented in letter and spirit.

The ceremony of the ADLG, an alliance of four provincial local councils’ associations, was organised by the Local Councils Association of Punjab (LCAP) here on Saturday.

The speakers also pointed out that the process of local government elections and formation in Punjab and Sindh was yet to be completed, causing distrust and unrest among the elected councilors.

They demanded that local government must be recognised as the third tier of the government. And the use of district development funds should be left at the discretion of the local government representatives instead of the MPAs and MNAs, they sought.

Giving their input on the occasion, some of the participants including Rao Naseem Hashim (ex-nazim Pakpattan), Adil Islam (Haripur), Fahad Riaz Khan (Charsadda), Tahir Sadiq (Attock), Rana Ijaz Ahmad and Waseem Ashraf from USAID said true democracy was possible if it was rooted in an effective and functional local government system.

The heads of the local government organisations from the nine countries of the world addressed the audience through video link. They assured the participants of their best possible support for strengthening the ADLG in particular and local government system in Pakistan in general.

Later, elections of the members and office bearers of the Board of Governors of the ADLG were also held. Each province elected five board members including a woman.

Mr Yousaf Ayub from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Syed Nasir Shah from Sindh were elected president and vice president of ADLG respectively. Balochistan and Punjab were entrusted with the seats of General Secretary and Finance Secretary respectively.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016