THE meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister and PML (N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif seems to have made at least one thing clear: it is up to the provincial governments to take any decision they like about the status and future of local governments since it is a provincial subject under the Constitution. And, therefore, the question of the appointment of administrators also falls in their domain. It is noteworthy that the local government system is part of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution that requires the President's prior approval for making any change. The best course for a provincial government wishing to get rid of local governments would be to let them function till their terms expire on 16th October and then appoint administrators hold the next elections for a system of their choice after 31st December when the 6th Schedule expires. Mian Shahbaz's call on Mr Gilani was a sequel to the Saturday's telephonic contact of the latter with PML chief Mian Nawaz Sharif who is presently in London. It suggests that the PPP leadership is conscious of the importance of having good and cooperative relationship with the PML (N), a major political force in the country, which unfortunately has so far been missing. The issue of local government apart, there are other hurdles of fundamental nature that have to be removed before the meeting of minds takes place. Reportedly, Mr Gilani and Mian Shahbaz reiterated their willingness to cooperate in restoring the 1973 Constitution by undoing the 17th Amendment and implementing the Charter of Democracy. Apart from the PPP and the PML (N), most other parties hold the same view. Then one wonders what need there was to constitute a review committee. With the serious challenges the country faces, there is need for a united political approach; the sooner the differences are removed the better.