SECRETARY General of Commonwealth Local Government Forum Carl Wright got it right when, addressing a workshop in Islamabad, when he said if given appropriate time and concentration, local government in Pakistan could improve. The observation came in response to Punjab Local Government Minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa's view that the existing system had turned out to 'a terrible experience'. There is no disputing his remark that the local bodies had not been able to redress public grievances in the last eight years. But if it is because of lack of interest on the part of nazims or the corruption of their staff, there is hardly any justification for abolishing the system altogether. It can be revamped to good effect by putting in place an effective accountability mechanism and enhancing the powers of provincial governments to monitor the functioning of the local councils. Mr Khosa, whose own performance as the Punjab Local Government Minister remains far from satisfactory, had better recommend changes in the existing local governance instead of trying to appease his leadership that has been strongly opposed to its retention.