LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday chaired a meeting to deliberate on the proposed local government system draft.

Ministers Raja Basharat, Mahmoodur Rasheed, advocate general, secretaries of law and local government departments and others attended the meeting.

The participants were briefed on the new local government system and the powers of LG representatives. At least 15 municipal corporations, 133 municipal committees, 35 district councils and 64 town committees are proposed in the new system.

The local governments will be fully empowered and the institution of district local government authority, to be headed by the chairman district council, is also proposed in every district. Allocation of traders’ seats will be deliberated.

The CM sought that the draft be finalised early so that the people are empowered by devolving powers at the grassroots level.

He also met the PTI parliamentarians from the provincial capital, provincial ministers, ticket-holders, workers and office-bearers of minority, youth and women wings. He listened to their problems and assured them of resolving their issues on priority.

He said the workers and office-bearers were party assets and warned that no injustice with workers would be tolerated and their genuine issues resolved at every cost. The PTI in Lahore not only challenged a party which had been in power for 30 long years but also proved its political wisdom by winning seats, he said.

The CM said billions of rupees were allocated to solve problems in Lahore. During the third year of the previous government, Rs67 billion were given to Lahore for different projects, excluding the budget of the Orange Line Metro Train, whereas projects valuing Rs85 billion had been given by the PTI-led government in its third year in power, he said.

Lahore’s master plan-2050 was being devised in consultation with stakeholders and the cleanliness system was also being improved in the provincial capital, he said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2021