BANNU, Dec 29: Supporting the local government system introduced in the country by previous government, Bannu district Nazim Malik Mohammad Iqbal Khan has said that the new system has ensured good governance and empowerment of people in decision-making process by devolution of powers at the grassroots level.

Briefing a Peshawar-based team of newsmen who visited Bannu regarding the performance of his government, the Nazim said the people of his district had reaped the benefits of the local bodies system by witnessing a record number of development schemes in different sectors in the area.

The foremost benefit of the LG system was that it ensured good governance which lacked in previous systems, Malik Iqbal observed.

Due to good governance, he added, resources of the country were spent on proper projects through a well chalked out process of scrutiny.

“It is due to the local government system that record development schemes were launched in different districts of the country and each locality has its representation at decision-making forums,” Malik Iqbal remarked.

Every government, he said, had launched development schemes but such schemes lacked proper support of common people.

In the prevailing system, he added, the district government could not launch even a single development scheme without obtaining consent and approval of majority of the Nazims of the union councils.

The devolution of power had provided the right to the common man to convey his demand to concerned people, he pointed out.

About the performance of his government, Malik Iqbal said since his assuming of office around 230 development schemes had been completed in Bannu district, and scores of others were in the process of completion.

The completed schemes, he said, were launched in the field of irrigation, communication, health, education and other sectors of public interest.

“The number of schemes completed in irrigation sector is 59. Whereas, 97 schemes are related to construction of roads in different localities.

“Six are related to construction of buildings, five for civic facilities, 23 for education and 40 for providing basic facilities to union councils.”

His major achievement, Malik Iqbal said, was the establishment of a campus of the NWFP University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar in Bannu.

The campus, he said, was also providing the facility of higher professional learning to the students of Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Tank, D.I.Khan, FR Bannu, FR Lakki Marwat, FR D.I.Khan and the four tribal agencies of Kurram, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan.—APP