LAHORE, May 31: Reintroduction of municipal corporations and zila councils and the independent office of deputy commissioner are the central points of the new local government system approved by the Punjab cabinet on Thursday.

There was, however, confusion about the decision whether the local government elections would be held on a party basis or the non-party basis. A spokesman for the Punjab government said the cabinet had not taken any decision on the issue and left it to the provincial assembly.

However, an official admitted that holding elections on a non-party basis was part of the draft law but the cabinet had decided to delete it in order to allow the assembly to take a decision on it.

The approved draft law is likely to be tabled in the provincial assembly for adoption in its budget session scheduled for June 5.

The division of urban and rural areas has been done away with in the current local government system. A four-year term for local councils and the provincial government’s right to conduct their special audits are other main features of the new law.

The Local Government Act 2012 will replace the current local government system which was introduced by Gen Musharraf.

It will end the office of DCO which used to function under elected district nazims and reintroduce the provincially controlled office of the deputy commissioner.