ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Punjab Group Chairman Mian Amer Mahmood said that the local government system is an effective model of governance, while the creation of new provinces could help reduce public expenditure and improve governance.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on the issue of formation of new administrative units in the country.
Addressing the debate, Mian Amer said people had a right to good governance, but Pakistan had never witnessed an effective local government system during democratic periods.
He said the creation of new provinces would not increase government expenditure; rather, it could help reduce costs and improve governance.
Mian Amer noted that all political parties had traditionally supported the local government system, but, in practice, none of them had conducted local government elections.
He stressed the need for effective governance structures that could better serve the people and address their problems at the grassroots level.
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A day earlier, Mian Amer Mahmood said he had no political agenda regarding the formation of new administrative units, emphasizing that Pakistan was built around its people and every region should serve their welfare and interests.
He said Punjab was the country’s largest province and received greater resources under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award because of its size.
Despite implementation of the NFC Award, he noted, Punjab continued to face criticism over resource distribution.
He said that the public could hold politicians accountable more effectively than institutions and called for a serious national debate on administrative structures, equitable distribution of resources and the devolution of powers to the grassroots level.
Qamar Zaman Kaira
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that the revival of the debate on creating new provinces is a welcome development.
He said the country faces several issues, including the distribution of powers. “As we initiate this debate, we must work within the framework of the Constitution,” Kaira said.
Fawad Chaudhry
Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that problems can only be resolved by transferring powers to the grassroots level.
Barrister Saif
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information adviser Barrister Saif has said that the country needs new provinces and reforms.
In his view, a national commission should be established to introduce reforms, while the creation of new provinces is extremely important.
He said a strong local government system was necessary to address public issues. New administrative units should be established according to population, adding that the creation of such units would directly benefit the people.
Nadeem Afzal Chan
PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan said the discussion should have taken place in Parliament.
He said the people should first be taken into confidence and all stakeholders would have to sit together. “All political parties should be brought to the table to develop consensus and then we should move forward,” he said.
Liaqat Baloch
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch has said that the creation of new provinces and the demand for a local government system are not contrary to the Constitution.
He said the issue should be discussed as it was a highly important subject and called for a broad-based dialogue.
Baloch said the country would have to learn from past mistakes and move forward, adding that an empowered system could help resolve citizens’ problems.