The newly-proposed district health and education authorities are likely to replace EDOs and leave the traditionally strong office of the deputy commissioner more “toothless” under the new local government system, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The office of the DC, traditionally the epicenter of power in the district combining both executive and judicial powers, is being revived but with limited powers.
The judicial powers were taken from the office under the Musharraf’s local government ordinance. Although the incumbent regime has decided to revive the nomenclature of the traditionally strong office, the judicial powers are not being revived.
Moreover, the proposed local government act introduced district education and health authorities, which would have the powers to transfer and post officials up to grade 18 — the powers currently lying with the DC.
Insiders further reveal that the executive district officers (EDOs) of health and education were likely to be replaced by the health and education authorities in the districts.
The move, which has been proposed by the government and already laid in the Punjab Assembly for debate, is most likely to get a smooth passage considering the majority of the PML-N.
Insiders revealed that a chief executive officer (CEO) would be appointed in each authority with board of directors being the elected local representatives and technocrats.
Officials said on condition of anonymity that the CEO coming from the private sector would be managing day-to-day affairs, while the board managing the rest of administration. “The role of the secretaries (health and education) will be only supervisory and to give policy guidelines, while no bureaucratic control from the DC will be there,” the official added.
These authorities would be responsible to manage the education and health up to the district level.
However, senior officials from the administrative departments expressed their reservations over the proposed bill, terming it only an act of assembly, in which rules are yet to be framed.
“The act only says there will be a CEO, but does not mention whether it will be from the private sector. Similarly, the powers of the DC and the authorities was something yet to be decided in the rules which were yet to be framed. All these powers already lie with the district officials, while an oversight of the department is already there. The new system [local government] will only distribute among locals the powers held by the EDOs,” the officials added.
After the passage of the act, there would be a massive reshuffle in schools and hospitals in the districts, as the government anticipates human resource serving in their respective domicile districts.
Officials refused to comment on the issue, saying the act was being debated in the Punjab Assembly.