Adam Khan Wazir Wana
In a landmark consultative meeting chaired by Mayor Intakar Khalil of Mardan, Local Government (LG) representatives from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province convened to address the pressing issue of the continued deprivation of powers and funds, marking two years since the last local government elections. The absence of these essential resources has not only frustrated representatives but has also led to a growing impact on the 40 million residents of the province. They announced to hold a protest demonstration in December for the fulfilments of their demands.
Despite being the primary point of contact for citizens seeking solutions to basic problems and municipal services, local government representatives find themselves unable to fulfill their roles due to the lack of necessary funds. The frustration among both representatives and the public has reached a tipping point, prompting a decisive movement.
During the extensive meeting, attended by representatives from various tehsils and councils, concerns were raised regarding the paralyzed state of the local government system after amendments in June 2022. Many Village Neighborhood Councils are struggling to pay office rents, Police Station Liaison Committees are inactive, and School Committees and municipal representatives are being disregarded.
Mayor Mardan, Intakar Ali Khalil, revealed the plan of action decided upon during the meeting. The representatives plan to submit a written request to the Chairman of the Election Commission of Pakistan next week, urging for immediate attention to their concerns.
