ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), after becoming a part of prime minister secretariat, has been asked to generate fundamental thoughts on promoting good governance to strengthen democracy through the reconstruction of institutions, informed sources told Dawn.

The bureau will provide support to the federal and provincial governments in the implementation of local government system.

The NRB will interact with government organizations for institutionalising the capacity building of local governments at all levels, the sources said.

They said the bureau had been assigned to process the amendments in local government laws proposed by the federal and provincial governments (under Article 268 read with the sixth schedule of Constitution of Pakistan 1973) for the approval of the President.

The NRB will initiate proposals for the reconstruction of civil services at federal, provincial and local levels and assist the governments concerned in the implementation of the proposed proposals.

The sources said the bureau would establish liaison with national and international think-tanks on issues related to good governance.

Similarly, the bureau will organize seminars, workshops and conferences and disseminate knowledge through media among all stakeholders.

It will also submit report to the prime minister during the month of March each year on its working, studies, research and suggestions.

The sources said it had been decided to replace the chief executive’s committee of devolution with the prime minister’s committee on devolution (PMCD) to be headed by the prime minister. Other members of the committee would be: NWFP Governor, chief ministers, ministers for defence, finance, interior, Safron and local government, NRB chairman, COS to the President and cabinet secretary.

They said similar committees would be formed in the provinces to be designated as the chief minister’s committee on devolution, which would be headed by the chief minister with the following members: minister for local government as deputy chairman, ministers for finance and law, chief secretary, secretary local government and secretary to the governor.