BAHAWALPUR, April 10: The proposed city council to be created for the forthcoming local government elections in Bahawalpur district, will comprise 18 union councils with a total estimated population of 450,000. It is learnt that in the future set-up of the city union council, three rural UCs — Khanowali, Jhangiwali and Raman will be included raising the number of UCs to 18. The remaining 15 UCs of Bahawalpur tehsil will form the Sadar council instead of the tehsil council.

It is further learnt that patwar circle 9-BC will be a part of the city council.

District officer (revenue) Waseem Shamshad told Dawn on Sunday that proposals for the new delimitation of city and Sadar councils had been finalized and forwarded to the BoR, Punjab, for its approval, which would be finally accorded by the chief minister.

The creation of city council within the tehsil council limits had been announced by President Pervez Musharraf during his public meeting on March 18. The president had taken the decision on the demand of local Nazims and some influential people on the plea that Bahawalpur citizens were ignored in the solution of their basic problems regarding civic amenities in the present devolution plan.

Now the administration has proposed the government two new bodies of city and Sadar councils for which elections will be held after government’s approval.

It is also learnt that the Punjab government has issued a notification in respect of vacancies of two deputy district officers (revenue), tehsildars and the subordinate staff for both Sadar and proposed city councils.

ALLEGATION: Jamhoori Water Party deputy secretary-general Abdul Rauf Sasoli has alleged that the Gwadar port project is aimed at converting Balochis into a minority.