KARACHI, March 7: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan has regretted that the main objective of the local government system, i.e. devolution of powers at grass-roots level, could not have been achieved so far.

He was addressing a seminar on Benefits of Local Government System and Political Leadership of Women which was organized by Peman Alumni Trust and Women City Councillors here on Monday.

Senior Presiding Officer of the City Council Muslim Pervez, Brig (r) Shafqat Mehmood, Taj Haider, Rehana Afroz, Musfarah Jamal and a large number of women councillors attended the seminar.

The city nazim pointed out that the basic aim of the LG system was to resolve people's problems at their doorsteps. However, he added, the objective could not be attained because the required powers had not been transferred to the lower tier of the government. Nevertheless, he observed, it was only the CDGK, from among all its counterparts in the country, which allocated development funds to union councils and because of this, uplift work in every nook and corner of the metropolis had been undertaken.

Mr Khan pointed out that funds had been released to every UC nazim, as well as councillors elected on general, labour, minority and women seats, without any discrimination enabling them to execute development schemes in their respective constituencies.

He lauded the performance of women councillors, saying that their efforts towards development were exemplary. "It is more commendable because women councillors have the additional responsibilities for being housewives," he remarked.

The city nazim expressed his dismay over the rising trend of corruption despite the presence of relevant laws. He stressed on implementing the laws more strictly and said that an even-handed accountability was a must to ensure that corruption was rooted out.

On the issue of councillors' honoraria, he said the matter should be raised on the floor of the assembly and must be resolved in the elected house. Muslim Pervez told the seminar that parameters of every legislature's powers were well defined in the constitution.

Therefore, he added, every one should serve the masses while remaining within his legal powers. Brig Shafqat, Taj Haider, Rehana Afroz and Musfarah Jamal also spoke on the occasion.

SPECIAL CHILDREN: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said on Monday that the city government would establish an institution where all possible facilities would be provided for the rehabilitation of special children, including blind, deaf and dumb.