KARACHI, Feb 13: The naib nazim of the city, Nasreen Jalil, has assured holding series of workshops for union, town and city councillors to help improve their understanding of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO).

She was speaking at a training session attended by councillors from Saddar, Lyari and Keamari towns here on Monday.

The naib nazim said that series of workshops for local councillors would be further expanded and held at regular intervals.

“Proper understanding of the ordinance and its different sections is prerequisite to actually empower the councillors”, she remarked.

Speaking on the occasion, the coordinator of the workshop and DO Council Mohammad Zakir said that it was for the UC nazims to decide which by-laws were essential to be made.

Replying to a query, he said that under Role No (2) three– Sindh Rules Contract union administration could float tenders for any development work within its jurisdiction - on the basis of funds allocated to them.

Mr Zakir said that under Section 88 of the Local Bodies Ordinance, City Community Boards were being constituted across the country and at every UC level 20 per cent of its total budget would have to be earmarked for these City Community Boards.

He mentioned that committees constituted at UC levels were not only authorized to decide matters specifically related to them but also keep under vigil the city government offices as well as town offices located within their jurisdiction.

Responding to another question, Mr Zakir said as per the budget rules every local government (pertaining to all levels) would be required to present its draft budget before the council by April first of each year.—APP