ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday constituted a high-powered committee for holding in-depth discussions and formulating a proposed structure of the local government bodies within one week.
The recommendations of the committee would be scrutinized and presented before the assemblies of the respective provinces for their consideration.
The prime minister directed that the process of finalizing recommendations for initiating legislation process should be completed within one month.
The decision was taken during a meeting on local government (LG) system here at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, provincial ministers, federal and provincial secretaries of relevant departments and senior government officers, PM Office media wing in a press release said.
The prime minister in his remarks said the transfer of power at the grassroots level and empowering people in a real sense was the main plank of the party’s reform agenda.
He said the past practice of centralization of power into few hands and at times, into one individual had not only deprived the people of any meaningful say in the government’s affairs but had also stripped the people of their right to have adequate resources for their development.
Detailed presentations were made and threadbare discussions followed during the meeting on the local government system which was introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the PTI government for empowering people at the grassroots level and the proposed system to be replicated in other provinces.
DIRECTS SECURITY PLAN FOR PILGRIMS
PM Khan also directed that a comprehensive action plan should be chalked out in consultation with all the stakeholders within 48 hours for the security of Zaireen (pilgrims) visiting Iran, Iraq and other holy places during the upcoming month of Muharram.
He observed that the security of the Zaireen visiting holy places abroad was the foremost priority and no effort should be spared in providing fool-proof security to them and ensuring their proper facilitation.
The prime minister issued directives in a meeting held on the issue of security and facilitation of the Zaireen here at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The meeting was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of State for Interior Shahryar Afridi, secretary to the prime minister, secretary interior, secretary religious affairs, Balochistan chief secretary and senior government officers, PM Office media wing in a press release said.
The prime minister directed that immigration counters at Pak-Iran border should be enhanced to facilitate Zaireen through speedy immigration process.
He further directed that a permanent mechanism should also be evolved to streamline the entire operations of Zaireen for future.
In this context, the prime minister directed the minister of state for interior to coordinate with the Balochistan chief minister and other stakeholders, including the security forces and ministry of religious affairs, in streamlining the process and ensure provision of maximum facilitation to the visiting Zaireen.
He further directed that a comprehensive time bound action plan with delineated responsibilities might be submitted for his approval to regulate the matter.
