LAKKI MARWAT: The provincial government has started taking practical measures to set up offices equipped with facilities for the village and neighbourhood councils.

A relevant official said on Thursday that the provincial government had written to the assistant directors of Local Government and Rural Development Department to establish the offices of local bodies. “The assistant directors have been directed to ensure that the offices for the village and neighbourhood councils are arranged in their respective areas,” he said.

“Under the Local Government Act 2013 the LG&RD assistant directors have a very important role on their part to work as secretary to the district council and principal accounting officer for the village and neighbourhood councils,” he said. The official said that the local government institutions would start functioning after May 30 polls and that the department was giving final touches to the rules and arrangement of resources for devolution and empowerment of elected representatives.

He said that with the devolution the local government representatives would be able to perform their duties effectively. He said that setting up of suitable offices equipped with all needed facilities for the village and neighbourhood councils would be helpful for the elected representatives to execute their functions in a better way.

The source said that the government had directed the assistant directors to set up offices for the councils in the existing government buildings or acquire buildings on rent for them. He said that the government had also assured provision of additional budget for establishment of the offices.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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