The leading civil society organizations, led by AwazCDS-Pakistan, are part of the Pakistan Development Alliance and call for a robust local government system in the country to ensure healthy democratic discourse.
Addressing the participants of the planning meeting held here in Islamabad regarding the 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 has been looming because of a dysfunctional and disempowered local governance system for a long. There is a dire need to amend Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan so that 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 to enhanced political, administrative, and financial autonomy for local governments in their manifestos for the recent general elections in 2024. He stressed that the time has come for political leadership and the Parliament to abide by their commitments.
Addressing the participants, Syed Ishtiaq Gillani, Chief Executive Officer of UGOOD Islamabad, said that the local government system in the federal capital is confusing as the Capital Development Authority is not willing to share its powers; therefore, people of the federal capital are badly suffering. Humera Malick, Program Manager, HomeNet Punjab, demands 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.
In contrast, local bodies held elections last year in the rest of the districts in Balochistan. However, the distribution of resources among different districts is highly discriminatory and not through any provincial finance commission award. Malick Tahir Mahmood, Executive Director of 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 its recent cleanliness drives. 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 unwilling 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 an 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.
