He also stated that some PTI
local government representatives expressed reservations on the interference of the provincial and national assembly members but they too had to step back since they could not confront the party leadership.
The subject of the letter is 'estimated resources to be transferred to the
local governments for the financial year 2019-20'.
'The verification was necessitated by the inability of nine
local governments of Akwanga, Nassarawa-Eggon, Kokona, Karu, Doma, Obi, Toto, Nasarawa and Lafia, to pay June salaries in spite of receiving allocation directly from the Federal Government.
Then-prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had promised the Dewan Rakyat that
local government elections would be restored once the Confrontation was over, but this did not happen despite the end of Confrontation just one year after the third vote was suspended.
Third, now that the Constitution commands (not simply permits) the provinces to 'establish'
local governments, how can they get away with doing the very opposite: dissolving
local governments and reclaiming powers already devolved?
The entire
Local Government Act is full of legal provisions to tighten provincial control over the
local governments.
The old structure of
local government was designed for managing the civil war and for ensuring political control over rural communities, which discouraged policy consultation and citizen engagement.
The Minister for
Local Government Shehram Tarakai said that Tehsil Council would be able to approve budget through simple majority, while
local governments would be provided 30 percent of provincial developmental budget.
Under the new
local government system, Neighbourhood Councils would be established besides raising the number of Metropolitan and Municipal Corporations in urban areas.
However, in spite of the fact, that the
Local Governments, under pressure in democracy and over bearing in Martial Laws have been there, the need of the institution has always remained.
"Imran Khan wants the Balochistan government to cut unnecessary costs, eliminate corruption and also introduce an effective
local government system," said Zulfiqar.
There are many things which contribute to this problem, such as overcrowding and unplanned expansion of the city, poor governance and lack of a proper
local government system.