FAISALABAD, Nov 13: Certain flaws in the distribution of staff, vehicles and other resources have landed the four newly-created towns in the city district in an outlandish situation.
The Faisalabad city localities and its adjoining urban areas like Khurrianwala, Dijkot, Pansera, Gatwala, Narwala, Aminpur Bangla, Kitchian, Barnala and other areas were divided into two tehsil municipal administrations during the local elections of 2001.
This time round, the Punjab government has declared Faisalabad a city district and both TMAs — City and Saddar — have been converted into Lyallpur, Iqbal, Madina and Jinnah towns by including the localities from rural and urban areas.
Of the 41 union councils in Madina Town, eight have been included from village areas making the total population of 797,851. Out of the 38 union councils in Lyallpur Town, 16 have been included from the Saddar localities. Its population has touched 717,710.
So is the case with Iqbal Town whose 43 union councils include 15 comprising villages, which convert the population into 785,102. As for the 39 union councils in Jinnah Town, nine have been made part of it covering the villages. Now the town’s total population has touched 789,088.
Each of the four towns has a population of well over 700,000, but the Madina and Lyallpur towns have a maximum number of posh areas, including commercial centres (eight bazaars among them), wagon stands and highways.
On the directions of the provincial government, the human and material resources (staff, vehicles and machinery) have been equally divided, dealing a blow to the system. Areas like the Clock Tower and its markets, commercial centres of D-Grounds and Satiana Road need more attention and facilities like cleanliness and streetlights compared to the places falling in the other two towns.
The Lyallpur Town has been crowned as the “Mother Town” and delegated the powers to monitor the affairs of the entire Garden Branch as well as to look after the budget allocation process of all the four towns till the end of the financial year. Obviously, it requires more resources but the staff and rooms in the TMA Complex have been equally given.
Meanwhile, Iqbal Town nazim-elect Sajjad Haider Cheema has refused to start working in the existing offices of the TMA Complex and ordered constructions of well-furnished and decent offices. Three rooms of the complex have been demolished and the construction work is under way.
The situation can lead to serious repercussions because not a penny can be spent by any nazim without approval of the house, which will become functional after the election of naib nazims.
