20000117

New LB system by mid-year: Omar

ISLAMABAD: A new efficient local government system will be put in place by the middle of the current year, Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Omar Asghar Khan said here on Sunday.

In an interview with the PPI, he said the local bodies would function and the local bodies polls would be held in accordance with the new mechanism which would serve as the basis of decentralised system and governance.

He said through devolution of powers the local governments would be given powers as well as responsibilities to chalk out plans and ensure implementation besides resolving the problems confronting the masses in an effective manner.

He said public opinion would be sought and NGOs and different organisations including press clubs would be encouraged to arrange seminars so that the government could benefit from the positive suggestions floated at different intellectual fora.

Omar further said that the provincial governments were being asked to design their own strategies. He said some provinces had already started working on it. He said in the Punjab, task force on social empowerment headed by Shafqat Mehmood had been set up while in Frontier, a group headed by Farid Rehman was working on it and had formulated a number of proposals.

He said the government would impart training to the people to familiarise them with the new system which would send a heavy work load from centre and provinces to district Tehsil and village levels.

He said the present government believed in provincial autonomy and decentralisation of power. He said the basic agenda of the government includes grassroots and participatory democracy to ensure that the deprived, neglected, vulnerable and poor sections of the society could play an important role in decision making.

Answering a question, he replied the government planed to hold local bodies elections by the end of year 2000.

To another question, he ruled out the possibility of revivel of octroi system abolished by the previous government, adding that the government was looking into more heads for collection of taxes at local level.

He said according to 1998-99 figures, the local bodies through octroi system had collected revenue to the tune of Rs 19 billion annually.

The minister observed that some other mechanism could be evolved under which revenue could be generated without pestering the people at barriers.

Responding to a question, he agreed that the law against the candidates for public offices involved in making false declaration of assets needed to be strengthened, adding that punishment to these people should be more severe.

Omer, who is also the Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis said the performance of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) was being reviewed and noted that the foundation had immense potentiel.

He said the advisory committee of the overseas Pakistanis would be de-politicised and a criterion would be laid down to ensure inductions in the commitee in a transparent manner.

He said names of suitable people would be sought from the embassies of Pakistan abroad.

He said the performance of labour attaches is also being reviewed. He said the government had received complaints against some of the attaches.

He said their job was to keep the government informed about the problems confronting the overseas Pakistanis.

Answering a question, he said the outcome of the second overseas Pakistanis convention would be studied and an enquiry would be held against those who caused a loss to national airlines by inviting their favourites from abroad on subsidised fares, in the name of the convention.-PPI