LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Saturday signed the Punjab Local Government Bill 2019 following approval with a majority vote in the Punjab Assembly early this week.

The signing of the law by the governor and consequent gazette notification has brought to an end the existing union councils dominated by the PML-N.

The PML-N had moved the Lahore High Court against the Local Government Act 2019. However, the court dismissed the petition as not maintainable before the final assent of the Punjab governor.

The new law envisages two-tier local government system under which panchayat and neighbourhood councils would be elected on a non-party basis. The governor says the new local bodies system will protect every penny of the nation and the accountability of local representatives will be ensured.

He said the new law would ensure service delivery at people’s doorsteps which was an integral part of the PTI manifesto. Unlike previous governments that gave so-called powers to the local bodies, the governor said the incumbent government had actually depicted the aspirations of the people by devolving powers at ground level.

The governor said it was for the very first time in the history of Punjab that such an empowered system of local bodies had been introduced under which approximately Rs40 billion would be spent to sort out the basic issues of people. Furthermore, he said, it would also be decided by local bodies officials that where the said money be spent.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was practically implementing his vision of empowering the ordinary people.

“The new local government system will not only strengthen people but also strengthen democracy,” he added.

FAISALABAD HOSPITAL: The Planning and Development Department on Saturday released additional funds of Rs100 million on the direction of Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar for the Government General Hospital Haseeb Shaheed Colony, Faisalabad.

The P&D issued a letter for the release of the funds. The chief secretary during his visit to Faisalabad this week had ordered provision of funds for the hospital. He is visiting the divisional headquarters to review implementation of government policies and administrative affairs.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2019