–Basharat says 22,000 panchayats will replace 3,100 UCs
–Govt will transfer Rs40bn directly to LG bodies to empower representatives
LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja on Wednesday said that the new local bodies system in Punjab will transfer the powers at grassroots in real sense.
Addressing a press conference, Basharat assured that the new local bodies system has been drafted according to the visions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
While giving details of the salient features of the new local bodies’ law, the minister said that this law will transfer financial resources directly to the public representatives who will be authorised to utilize them according to their needs and demands of their areas.
He also said that new local bodies system will ensure transparency, accountability and sustainable development across the province and a two-tier administrative infrastructure will be introduced in it.
Talking about the structure of new system at the rural level, he said that tehsil councils and panchayat will be introduced against district council and union councils of the previous system. Similarly, metropolitan corporations and municipal corporations will perform at divisional and tehsil levels.
He further said that 22,000 panchayats will replace 3,100 UCs in the new system and added that this would broaden the scope of public representation. Funds worth Rs40 billion will be directly transferred to the system.
The minister said that public representatives belonging to religious minorities will also get an opportunity to perform as the head of local bodies in areas where they are in the majority.
He said that elections of panchayat and neighborhood council would be held on a non-party basis while the local bodies’ elections will be direct and party-based.
The minister said, “It is our effort that the new system should be implemented as soon as possible and this would bring an end to the previous system”.