Devolution only way to empower masses, PM Khan says

Dawn.com Arif Malik Published September 23, 2018

Prime Minister Imran Khan, on his visit to Lahore on Sunday, declared that strengthening local bodies is the primary agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led government.

To discuss the establishment of local bodies, the premier chaired a meeting attended by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman and senior party leadership.

Addressing the meeting, PM Khan said that devolution of power is the only way to empower the masses. He added that the local body system would pave the way for future leadership and break the status quo.

Senior minister Aleem Khan, who is also heading a special task force, is expected to come up with a viable LG system to be introduced in the province.

Later, while briefing the media, Chaudhry said that in the next 48 hours, the participants of the meeting will decide the number of members to be included in village and union councils. The participants will also decide if direct elections should be held on the tehsil level or district level.

The prime minister also held a separate meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and his cabinet, in which he assigned various targets to provincial ministers, said Chaudhry.

"The vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan is that of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and wherever the party has secured a majority, the premier will ensure that the vision is acted upon," the information minister said.

Agenda for the day

PM Khan was to chair a cabinet meeting on Sunday to review the Punjab government’s performance on the PTI's 100-day agenda. CM Buzdar had already reviewed the 100-day plan and progress of 15 government departments a day ago.

Following the cabinet meeting, the prime minister held separate meetings with commissioners and deputy commissioners at the chief minister’s secretariat and took up some administrative matters, including political interference in officials’ working.

All bureaucrats and police officers had been called to Lahore for the meeting.

A separate meeting was scheduled with Chief Minister's Adviser Nasir Durrani, Inspector General Police Punjab Mohammad Tahir, the Intelligence Bureau chief as well as the Federal Investigation Agency director, media reports suggested.

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NACParis

Sep 23, 2018 03:35pm

These are the signs of change of empowerment to come in various department. Hopefully this will reduce the corruption in LDA and other departments.

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M. Saeed

Sep 23, 2018 03:53pm

An 'empowered' local government is the one having grass root functions to perform unhindered and toe overstepped by the provincial government.

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Gerry dcunha

Sep 23, 2018 04:07pm

A incompetent CM of Punjab

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Dr Haroon

Sep 23, 2018 06:47pm

I do not understand why people waiting for their allotted plots are using this opportunity to protest. Did they or their lawyers consult PTI or even performef due diligence when they paid for these plots? If yes, they can protest. Otherwise this is a case of simple fraud and they should consult with relevant departments or go to the court.

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M1 Jamal

Sep 23, 2018 07:33pm

Give absolute power to local governments and legislative assemblies like Provincial and National assemblies job to be restricted to legislation and no funds for road carpeting or sewarage lines.

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Nawaz

Sep 23, 2018 09:33pm

In regard to setting up of Village Councils, the local govt task force should study the concept of Parish Councils in the UK. A certain number of petition signatures are required to set up a Parish Council which are the first tier of local govt and funded by the District govt. If govt can't afford to set up Village councils throughout the Punjab, they can be set up at least in remote areas to empower people at local level. https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/set-up-a-town-or-parish-council Direct elections should be held on both the Tehsil and district levels. This will stop corrupt practices through which councillors's votes are bought by th would be candidates thereby making a mockery of democracy.

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Mirza

Sep 23, 2018 09:35pm

In all the democracies, cities are empowere to collect their own taxes (through property tax) and spend it in their city. For schools, for development and on the people who paid those taxes. Mushharaf also broiught the local bodies system , and you know what happened, Make it part of constitution so that no body can change it.

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Nawaz

Sep 23, 2018 09:45pm

DMG / PAS roles at the district and sub-divisional levels should be done away with and brought under local governments under different designations to implement local govt laws and policies. They can continue acting as judges of revenue courts at respective levels under local governments. Land Revenue Administration should be the responsibility of local governments not the Board of Revenue, Commissioners and Collectors. Board of Revenue under a different new name should only perform limited functions e.g. maintenance of centralised record of all the public and private land to facilitate planning of infrastructure projects etc by the provincial governments. Maintenance of law and order must be the responsibility of police only as two tier system, the second being DMG / PAS group and their role in the maintenance of law and order, is a wastage of resources.

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Karthik

Sep 23, 2018 10:32pm

Remembers me the episode 'Power to the People' in "Yes, Prime Minister"

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Nawaz

Sep 24, 2018 01:12am

IK should not expect miracles from the bureaucracy unless their mindset is changed and they are made to think outside the box. If local governments are truly empowered, there won't be any need for a two tier Administrative system, i.e. local government and district administration. Would we really need Chief Secretaries in the provinces and district administrations under them after local governments have been empowered? I'm not aware of any example of this administrative model in the developed world where local governments are fully empowered. Governors are already serving as representatives of the federal government and there won't be any need for chief secretaries and district administrations after local governments have been truly empowered. please also see my other posts on local govt in this news item.

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Asad

Sep 24, 2018 02:15am

@Nawaz : DMG/PAS are more happy with devolved system where DCO was far more effective than present Deputy Commissioner. There is always role for PAS/DMG to play being the most talented civil servants. No government can perform without an implementing arm.

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M. Afzal Riaz, MD

Sep 24, 2018 03:06am

PM. If you really want Local bodies empowered: Follow USA model. Enact a law in assembly and Provinces to accept. Band aid treatment is a slogan

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anand

Sep 24, 2018 03:41am

Empowerment of others to lead ? You are PM ! Lead Now ! Is that not what you asked for ? And got ?

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Syed Anjum Ali

Sep 24, 2018 05:29am

Some good ideas by PM . However, devolution should start by ending federal recruitment of police and administrative services through FPSC. These should be fully devolved as provincial subjects. Further, technical ministries , departments etc should be encouraged at all levels to hire their own employees directly. The local councils and grassroots must also be empowered to not only elect councilors etc but also to set up honest 'accountability cells'of citizens to maintain checks and balances of the elected representatives.

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Syed Anjum Ali

Sep 24, 2018 05:33am

@M1 Jamal , a good idea. Personally, I don't see the need for any provincial assemblies , central legislature is enough. Provinces should have a directly elected CM and a team of civil officers and the residuary functions, powers etc should all be fully devolved to local bodies /councils, with appropriate checks.

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Sep 24, 2018 07:07am

When empowering local bodies, development decisions should be made by elected local bodies while the district administration shall remain under jurisdiction and responsibility of the DC/Commissioner reporting to the Chief Secretary. Administrative power needs to be evolved gradually to the local bodies over time as they become more experienced in terms of sustainable self governance. Gradual evolution is critical because of the real nature of our culture, baradari system and tribal mind set so the goal of impartial and fair governance is achieved. The bureaucratic system should be changed to how it was till the early 1970s when it worked well. All local Govt departments including the police should operate under the jurisdiction of DC/Commissioner to eliminate confusion in authority between varied power centers for the purpose of clear accountability. NAB rules/laws need to be rationalized via legislation, so it cannot be used for victimization or blackmail of government officials.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Sep 24, 2018 09:33am

Way to go. Please implement the devolution process in the remaining provinces other than Punjab and the KPK as well. There is dire need for giving equal rights to the inhabitants of these provinces as well.

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Nusrat

Sep 24, 2018 09:33am

Devolution is only good if the elected members have certain criteria of knowledge and level of experties.. with parliment like ours what do you expect from devolution????

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