Islamabad : The leading civil society organizations under the aegis of Pakistan Development Alliance, led by AwazCDS-Pakistan, called for a robust local government system in the country to ensure healthy democratic discourse. Addressing to the participants of planning meeting held here at Islamabad regarding role of civil society in strengthening local governments, Zia ur Rehman, the Chief Executive of AwazCDS-Pakistan highlighted the challenges of democratic unrest and polarization in the country. The situation is looming because of dysfunctional and disempowered local governance system since long. 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. The time has come that political leadership and the Parliament abide the commitment they made, he stressed. Addressing to the participants, Syed Ishtiaq Gillani, Chief Executive Officer of UGOOD Islamabad, said that the local government system in federal capital is confusing as Capital Development Authority is not willing to share their powers therefore people of federal capital are badly suffering. Humera Malick Program Manager, HomeNet Punjab demand for an inclusive local governance system to ensure the representation of all marginalized groups including women, older people, minorities, youth, and labourers. Zia ullah Khan Team Lead, HARD Balochistan shared that Quetta is the only district in Balochistan that has no local government whereas the local bodies elections in rest of the districts in Balochistan were held last year. However, the distribution of resources among different districts are highly discriminatory and not through any provincial finance commission award. Malick Tahir Mahmood, Executive Director Legal Rights Forum, Sindh, highlighted the need for capacity strengthening of local counsellors and local government authorities for a more functional local government system in Sindh. He praised the role of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for their cleanliness drives in the recent times. Qamar Naseem, Program Manager, Blue Veins from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that the political mandate of local government is not fully explored yet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the provincial assembly is not willing to shed its powers. Elected leaders of Tehsil and Neighbourhood Councils were given their honorariums after six months of their struggles.
Marium Amjad Khan, Program Team Lead, AwazCDS-Pakistan shared that we would continue our efforts to build the understanding of Parliamentarians and other stakeholders on the importance of empowered local government system in the country. We will reach out to provincial assemblies, concerned standing committee members and related departments to further strengthen local governments in Pakistan.