LAHORE - Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that legislation will be carried out for a new ‘comprehensive’ local government system in the province.
He said that such a local government (LG) system would be established in consultation with public representatives which reflected aspirations of the masses and ensured provision of relief to them. The CM said that PML-N believed in devolving powers to basic level and had strengthened the LG institutions during its different tenures. He said that the LG institutions help step up process of providing education, health, water and sewerage and other basic facilities to the common man. The CM said that LG institutions are means to strengthen democratic system and democratic traditions.
He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting with regard to setting up a new local government system in the province here on Monday. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MNA Zahid Hamid, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayyaz Ameer, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Punjab Chief Secretary, Advocate General Punjab, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries of Local Government, Finance, Law and Agriculture departments, Rawalpindi Commissioner and others attended the meeting.
He said local government institutions are nurseries of democracy which promote democratic traditions. He said that the provincial government is fully aware of the importance and utility of these institutions and will ensure that living standard of the people should improve and their problems are redressed through new local government system. The CM said that Punjab government will establish such a comprehensive local government system which will come up to the expectations of the masses and will be unique with regard its performance. The CM said that legislation will be made through provincial assembly for enforcing new local government system.
On this occasion, the CM also appreciated the committee which was earlier, set up to formulate recommendations vis-à-vis main features of the new local government system.
He said members of the committee and all concerned departments have worked meticulously for formulating recommendations.
Earlier, Chairman of Committee and MNA Zahid Hamid and Secretary Local Government Khizar Hayat Gondal informed the meeting about recommendation with regard to new local government system. The participants of the meeting also gave their suggestions regarding new local government system.