KARACHI: Local Gov­ern­ment Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Monday said that the provincial government believed in legislation by consensus as it was still consulting with all major opposition parties to further improve the recently amended Sindh Local Government Bill 2021.

Speaking at a press conference here at the committee room of the Sindh Assembly, he said that the provincial government was consulting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, PML-Q, PML-Functional and all other parties on local government law.

“The process of consultation will continue,” he added.

He said that the new local government law had been greatly improved as compared to the law of 2013. “Local bodies and their representatives have been further empowered,” he claimed.

In response to a question, Mr Shah said that laws were not divine scriptures and they could always be changed through consultation.

He said that the Sindh’s law was better than those of other three provinces.

The LG minister said that PTI was ruling the three other province and they should tell the people how much powers they had given to the mayors there.

To a question, he said that PPP votes had increased in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as compared to the last election. “People are appreciating the vision of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari,” he claimed.

The LG minister said that the provincial government had built most of the underpasses and flyovers in Karachi and a “Jiyala will be the next city mayor”.

He said that the provincial government had completed several development schemes in Karachi and improved the city’s infrastructure.

The minister said that the 70-year-old pumping stations of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were also being improved for smooth supply of water to people.

“Schemes in Malir Development Authority and Lyari Development Authority have also been improved with provision of utilities,” he added

He said that for new cemeteries in the cities of the province, an authority had been created which would allocate space for graveyards.

The LG minister said that work on uplift schemes in other parts of the province was also being carried out.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2021