PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khan Khattak on Monday said the local government system introduced by the PTI government in the province would have administrative, financial and political autonomy as enshrined in the Constitution.

He was speaking to a delegation of PTI Youth Wing led by its central president Ali Bukhari at Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, says a handout issued here.

The chief minister said the new Local Government Act enforced in the province was drafted keeping in view the spirit of the Constitution, principles of democracy and the election commitments of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

He said unlike the much-trumpeted devolution programme of the Musharraf government in which financial resources transferred to the districts were limited to the salaries of the district and local government employees, his government was transferring major portion of development budgets to the local bodies from the districts down to tehsil, union council and even village level so that empowerment of the people at the grassroots could be ensured.

“On the other hand a stringent and concrete provision has been made against floor- crossing so that democracy and democratic principles are strengthened,” he said.

Mr Khattak said distribution of resources to local bodies would be made in line with the law and on the basis of population.