KARACHI, Jan 10: Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has said that unlike past no quota will be fixed or discretionary powers will be given to the elected representatives in respect of jobs and development schemes in the province.

Instead, all the matters will be dealt with on merit and in a transparent manner, he said while speaking to a group of district Naib Nazims drawn from all over the province at the Governors House.

The governor said that the government officials would be answerable to the respective councils of districts and were bound to remain present in the council sessions as and when required.

He stressed on the elected representatives of the local governments to make efforts for the promotion of positive values in the society and for maintaining peace in their respective areas.

He hoped that the district Nazims, Naib Nazims, councillors and the government officials would jointly work with understanding so that positive results could be achieved.

The district Naib Nazims, being the head of the council, have to play an effective role in supervising development schemes and take decisions with the consultation of the council members, he maintained.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial minister for local government Dewan Yousuf informed the Naib Nazims that no grading of the offices of elected representatives had been done, however, their privileges had been defined in accordance with the grades.

The local government secretary explained that the budget of the District Council Secretariat could be operated with joint signatures of Naib Nazim and the concerned officer of the council.

He also explained to the Naib Nazims about their powers and privileges.

The elected representatives were informed that the buildings of defunct district councils would be used for holding council sessions.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain, Principal Secretary to the governor Akhtar Zamin, Secretary Information Mirza Karim Baig, Secretary Local Government Qamar Zaman, Secretary Law Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah besides other officers.

Earlier, before meeting the governor, the Naib Nazims held a separate meeting at the office of Naib Nazim Karachi Tariq Hasan during which they finalized their demands which included separate budget for Naib Nazims secretariat and use of vehicles, medical facilities and protocol at par with the privileges of Nazims.

The deputy Nazims also demanded powers to conduct open kutcheries wherein all officers including the DCO and District Police Officer should be present, while deputy Nazims should also be authorised to inspect police stations within their respective district.

Zila council secretariat should be provided a separate budget as envisaged in SLGO 2001, and all resolutions adopted by it must be implemented with immediate effect and report thereof be passed on to Naib Zila Nazim.

Naib Nazims also demanded allocation of development schemes for them in annual development plans and special development plans.—PPI