In a recent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to abolish the district government, the most effective tier of the existing Local Government system.
According to a local media report, following this decision, the remaining two tiers — the tehsil and the village and neighbourhood governments would be further empowered under the new changed in the LG system. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, cabinet members, MNAs and MPAs.
Minister for Local Government Shahram Khan Tarakai as quoted by local media said that “the tehsil government was more accessible to the masses compared to the district government”.
Asked about reasons for abolishing the district government, he said that “several functions of the district and tehsil governments were overlapping and that was why the government had decided to abolish one of them”.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that it is unclear whether the government would bring in a new law in this regard or make amendments to the existing KP Local Government Act, 2013.
It is expected that under the new system the tehsil mayor would be elected directly by the masses.