By: Our Correspondent
QUETTA: Constitution of Pakistan should be amended to clearly define role, term, and responsibilities of the third tier of local governments in Pakistan like the role, domain and duration of national and provincial governments. Without a clear constitutional definition, the critical third tier of governance has not been made effective by provinces. The consensus emerged at a Consultative Forum organized by PILDAT in collaboration with the UNDP on the subject of Effective Local Governments at Quetta.
Speakers at the Forum included Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT, Ms. Aliona Niculita, Deputy Resident Representative UNDP, Syed Ehsan Shah, Deputy Director (LGE) ECP Balochistan and Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director, PILDAT.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Aliona Niculita said that the UNDP has been working with National and Provincial Governments to strengthen effective and accountable ’democratic governance. The consultative forum on effective local governments is an important part to strengthen the necessary third tier of local governance in Pakistan.
Earlier, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT said that with the population size of 220 million, only 1191 elected national and provincial legislators in Pakistan cannot provide a stable system of democratic governance. An effective third tier of local governance is the pressing need for Pakistan.
Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director PILDAT, presented a rationale on the need for effective local government system in Pakistan as well as a comparative analysis of the current system of local governments in place across 4 provinces of Pakistan.
Balochistan MPAs joining the forum included Ms. Shakeela Naveed Noor Qazi, MPA (BNP-M) and Mr. Ahmed Nawaz, MPA and Member Standing Committee on Housing & Physical Planning Road, Building (BNP-M).
A diverse group of representatives of key political parties, media, academia, CSOs and youth representatives also joined the forum to share their perspectives