Zubair Qureshi
The leading civil society organizations under the Pakistan Development Alliance have called for a robust local government system in the country to ensure healthy democratic discourse.
Addressing the participants of a planning meeting held here at Islamabad regarding the role of civil society in strengthening local governments, Ziaur Rehman, Chief Executive of AwazCDS-Pakistan highlighted the challenges of democratic unrest and polarization in the country.
The situation is looming because of a dysfunctional and disempowered local governance system. There is a dire need to amend Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan so as each Province in its jurisdiction and the federal government in Islamabad Capital Territory and the Cantonments shall, by law establish a local government system and devolve political and administrative powers with a local cadre of services and financial responsibility and authority through the Provincial Finance Commissions to elected representatives of the local governments.
He further shared that almost all the major political parties have committed enhanced political, administrative, and financial autonomy for local governments in their manifestoes of recent general elections in 2024.
Time has come that political leadership and the parliament abide by the commitment they made, he stressed. Addressing the participants, Syed Ishtiaq Gillani, Chief Executive Officer of UGOOD Islamabad, said that the local government system in the federal capital was confusing as Capital Development Authority seemed not willing to share their powers therefore people of federal capital are badly suffering. Humera Malick Programme Manager, HomeNet Punjab demands for an inclusive local governance system to ensure the representation of all marginalized groups including women, older people, minorities, youth, and labourers.
