Brushing aside threats to local government system, chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said the provincial government to ensure good governance in the province would support the system.
“There is no plan to abolish the local bodies system as we have no such intention because the system is necessary for giving representation and relief to people at gross root level,” Hoti told a meeting of all the district nazims at his office on Tuesday.
“We will give importance to the proposals and recommendations of the nazimeen for the development of their respective areas,” Hoti said.
Provincial senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who has also the portfolio of local government and rural development, also attended the meeting.
In his address, the chief minister said the objectives of the federal, provincial and local governments were the same, adding best coordination among them was prerequisite for the real development of the province. “We respect the representatives of local bodies as their role is key to addressing the grievances of the local populations,” he added.
Referring to law and order situation, the chief minister said the situation was improving with the passage of time as a result of their efforts for peace and stability in the region.
He said the role of public representatives was highly required in bringing back peace and normalcy to the troubled areas because they had direct contact with the people and can understand the situation better.
“We are not against the local government system and will do every effort to strengthen it for the well being of the masses,” he said.
Hoti told the meeting that Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani had earmarked a sufficient amount for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake-hit zones in the province. However, he stressed the need for assessment and identification of the problems prior to utilization of funds.
He on this occasion asked nazimeens to prepare a comprehensive report regarding the problems being faced by the people of their respective areas. He told district Kohat nazim that he had issued directives for appointment of specialist doctors at district headquarters hospital Kohat, asking other nazimeen to present him reports if such problems were persisting in their respective hospitals.
Hoti said resolving the problems of the people was a collective responsibility of all the stakeholders, adding the provincial government will continue to consult and support LG system in this regard.
Nazimeen of different districts apprised the chief minister about the problems being faced by the people of their respective areas. They also hailed the efforts of the provincial government in regard to maintaining law and order and peace in the province and assured their full support to the provincial government.
In his address, provincial senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour said that it was the responsibility of all the public representatives to play thier role in steering the nation out of the prevailing uncertain situation.
Bilour asked nazimeen to remove threats of abolishing the system from their mind and should keep continue their efforts for the betterment and prosperity of the people.
The participants of the meeting were district Peshawar nazim Haji Ghulam Ali, Charsadda nazim Sajid Khan, Nowshera nazim Dawoud Khattak, Swabi nazim Shah Ram Tharakai, Swat nazim Jamal Nasir, Upper Dir nazim Sahibzada Tariqullah, Lower Dir nazim Ahmad Hassan, Chitral nazim Maghfirat Shah, Malakand nazim Fida Muhammad, Shangla naib nazim Muhammad Tahir, Bunir nazim Rauf Khan, Batagram nazim Shamsur Rehman, Mansehra nazim Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Abbottabad nazim Sardar Haider Zaman, Hari Pur nazim Yusuf Ayub, Kohistan nazim Dr Saifur Rehman, Kohat nazim Gauhar Saifullah, Karak nazim Rehmat Salam, Bannu nazim Azam Durrani, Hangu nazim Haji Khan Afzal Orakzai, Lakki Marwat nazim Qudratullah and DI Khan nazim Abdur Rauf.