KARACHI, Sept 25: The Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Justice E Abdul Razzak Thahim, on Saturday said a final decision on shifting the National Accountability Bureau and the Anti-Narcotics Courts from the premises of the Municipal Training and Research Institute (MTIR) Clifton to another place is expected soon.

"Meetings have been held with the ministry of law in this regard and these would be shifted to some other place, once a suitable location is made available," he told newsmen on the sidelines of the concluding ceremony of a financial management course for local bodies' representatives by the MTIR.

In reply to a question, he said that the local government ministry was presently engaged in setting priorities for utilising development funds allocated in 2002 and 2003 through local governments, which according to him were yet to be utilised.

On the role of the local government ministry in the presence of the NRB, the minister maintained that all decisions regarding the devolution plan were taken with the mutual consensus of both departments without falling in any dispute.

When his attention was drawn towards discrimination with rural parts of Karachi in development works, he replied that no such thing existed and all parts of the country were being treated equally by the release of equal amount of funds to all MNAs, Senators and MPAs.

He urged for enhanced cooperation between all tiers of governments in order to extend maximum relief to the masses.

Earlier, Mr Thahim, speaking at the concluding ceremony of financial course, said the new local government system was working well to solve the problems of people at the grass roots level, which was also its main objective.

With the passage of time, the level of development activities would expand to serve the people effectively.

"The priority of the present government is to provide basic amenities to the people. In this regard, the entire credit goes to President Pervez Musharraf, who took the initiative for this useful devolution plan at the local level," he added.

On complaints of participants regarding hurdles confronting them in carrying out development projects, he assured them that he would meet the prime minister and inform him for addressing their grievances.- PPI