KARACHI - The People's Development Committees (PDCs) are ineffective as elected representatives have no direct role to ensure transparency and quality of development works in Sindh. The PPP after coming into power, formed the PDCs, headed by its MPAs in all districts. However, these committees are not playing the role these have been envisaged for due to a lack of power and other reasons. TheNation talked to the PPP MPAs, who are members of the PDCs at districts level, however a majority of them termed it a futile exercise because the purpose for which these committees had been formed are not un-served so far. The MPAs also pointed out that only few meetings of the committees held in districts concerned, while some lawmakers complained that they are being ignored in finalizing the development schemes process by the provincial government as well as by bureaucracy. PPP MPA Ali Murad Rajar, who is member of development committee of District Umerkot, told the scribe that as a lawmaker, he is not satisfied with the performance of the committees whom he represents. Elaborating faults in the smooth functioning of the committee, Rajar said the officers of the district do not come to attend meetings even they do not follow the instructions of the lawmakers body formed by the Chief Minister to look after quality and transparency in the development schemes. The MPAs of ruling party PPP elected from district concerned, DCO, EDOs and other officers concerned are also members of the PDC at district level. Though, the Terms of References (ToRs) of the Committees are clear, and they have to meet at least once in a month to review the progress of development schemes-District as well as Provincial Annual Development Programme and to report the provincial authorities concerned about the irregularities, if any, in the development schemes, but according to the PPP legislators, the ToRs are not being followed by committees. Rajar said that District Umerkot Committee has complained the authorities of the Provincial government about the irresponsible behaviour of officers, even they have raised the issue in Parliamentary partys meetings but to no avail, and bureaucracy of the district continues to ignore the lawmakers body in district. He termed the District Development Committee of elected representatives as powerless, suggesting authority for committee to take action against the bureaucracy in case of irregularities find in the development schemes. Another PPP MPA Abdul Raheem Khan Khoso, who is member of Jacobabad PDC expressed his displeasure over the performance of development committees and said that no regular meetings are held to review the progress and monitor the transparency of development schemes in district. However, PPPs MPA Bashir Ahmed Khan Leghari who leads same committee in Badin claimed that People Development Committee is met once a month on regular basis in his district. He too complained about the lack of the funds for development schemes in his district, adding that development committee sends suggestions to the Chief Minister for allocation additional funds. Mr. Leghari pointed out that lots of schemes are not incorporated in the Provincial ADP due to unknown reasons, adding that committee which he led has written to the provincial authority and urged for incorporating the schemes in ADP. He informed that after dissolution of the local governments, the provincial government has stopped releasing the funds to district governments of Sindh; however, committee approaching the authorities concerned urged to release funds for Peoples Development Committee of Badin. Meanwhile, Muhammad Nawaz Chandio member of Badin committee differed with the views of Bashir Leghari, saying that People Development Committee of his district is ineffective in his district. He said that Committee has not taken any agenda to provide relief to the common masses in terms of prioritizing the development schemes. Chandio pointed out that holding the meetings of the committee does not serve any benefit to the common people, advocating for more powers for the committee. Pir Amir Ali Shah chairman Peoples Development Committee of Matyari district claimed that his committee working strictly on the ToRs under the mandate assigned by the provincial government.