RAWALPINDI:
The outgoing year 2024 turned out to be extremely disappointing and frustrating for the local government bodies as the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Committees, District Council and Municipal Committees of Rawalpindi could not initiate a single new mega project throughout the year, due to the “serious” economic and financial crises.
Annual Development Fund (ADP) projects were also put on hold due to shortage of funds throughout the year. The funds were given to local government bodies only for the salaries of their employees.
To add insult to injury, local government bodies were also deprived of their public representatives in the last four years as local government elections in Punjab could not be held due to repeated changes in the Local Government Act.
There is currently no local government system in Punjab as the PML-N government has suspended the Local Government Act 2022 drafted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The unfortunate local government system is under the control of the administrators.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs) joined their duties in local government institutions several times during the year but were unable to start important exercises due to their “busy schedules”.
In 2024, Rawalpindi District Council, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, six municipal committees and one municipal committee submitted 410 development plans worth over Rs 6.95 billion for the development of the city and rural areas of Rawalpindi. However, the funds were not released and the files for these development schemes remained in the archives.
Funds were not released for road projects, new water supply systems, new sewage systems, cemetery boundary walls, four mini-dams, eight ponds, five funeral homes, 17 water pools, filtration plants and 193 drains and streets. .
However, work only began on the plans proposed by legislators with concerted financing.
Coordination Committee Chairman MNA Qamarul Islam and MPA Ziaullah Shah say the issue of funds for development plans and projects of local bodies will be resolved soon. A new law on local government will also be passed at the beginning of the new year, after which unprecedented funds will be provided to local bodies, they add.
Despite the setbacks of 2024, there is hope for change next year. Local government officials, including MNA Qamarul Islam and MPA Ziaullah Shah, have assured that issues of financing the development plans will be addressed promptly. They also stated that a new Local Government Act will be introduced early in the New Year, which is expected to provide substantial financial support to local bodies. With these changes, local government bodies are optimistic about overcoming last year’s challenges and resuming vital development projects to improve Rawalpindi’s infrastructure and public services.
