LAKKI MARWAT: Speakers at a seminar have asked the government to implement access to information laws in true spirit to promote budget transparency and accountability in the country.

The seminar was arranged by the Citizens’ Network for Budget Accountability (CNBA) with the support of Community Development Organisation (CDO) and Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) here on Tuesday.

CDO representative Inayatullah Khan, Advocate Zafrullah Khan and a local body member Engineer Latifullah Khan addressed the seminar.

They said that budget proposals should be widely discussed with civic groups, government agencies and other stakeholders. They stressed the need for giving legal protection to the participation of citizens in the budgeting process.

“Many local government representatives are unaware about their functions and responsibilities with regard to budget making and there is need for arranging training sessions for them,” said Latifullah Khan.

He said that the provincial government reduced the powers of local bodies’ members by making them subordinate to low ranking secretaries of village and neighbourhood councils.

QUOTA: The government has increased the daily wheat quota from 160 tonnes to 212 tonnes for Bannu district.

An official said that Deputy Commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal had requested the provincial government to increase the wheat quota to overcome the shortage of flour in the district.

“After enhancement in daily quota the local flour mills will get additional wheat for grinding,” he said. He added that the flour mills would produce 7,420 bags of flour instead of 5,600 bags and the commodity would be available in abundance.

PROTEST: The employees of water and sanitation services company (WSSC) held a sit-in outside Bannu Press Club on Monday to record their protest against non-payment of salaries.

Leaders of City Ittehad, a body formed by traders, local body members and local elders also participated in the protest.

WSSC workers union president Noor Ayaz Khan, Razaullah and other leaders said on the occasion that they had not been paid salaries for the last four months.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2023