JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
Elected local body representatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing a crisis of denied funds and power, rendering them ineffective in serving their communities.
Despite being elected to address the needs of their constituents and provide doorstep services, the local government representatives of the province are struggling to fulfill their responsibilities due to lack of resources and authority.
Himayatullah Mayar, Chairman Provincial Action Council, a representative council of all mayors and chairmen, told Lead Pakistan that the local government system of tehsil and village and neighbourhood councils came into power after elections, which were conducted in two phases on December 19, 2021, and March 27, 2022.
In a significant move, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government introduced drastic changes to the local government law on April 12, 2022, substantially curtailing the powers of local bodies.
Himayatullah Mayar, Mayor of Mardan City, criticized the previous PTI government led by then Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for amending the Local Government Act, 2013.
The changes deleted section 30 (2) (b), which governed the financial resources of local bodies, effectively stripping them of their financial autonomy, he added.
Mr Mayar argued that the move had severely impacted the ability of local governments to effectively manage their finances and deliver essential services to their constituents in the province.
Haji Zubair Ali, Mayor of Peshawar Metropolitan City, criticized the provincial government for making unnecessary changes to the local government law which severely limited the funds and powers of local government representatives.
Mr Ali stated that the PTI government abolished Section 30 Sub-Section 2 Clause, depriving local representatives of their rightful funds.
He alleged that local government representatives received no funds in the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25, despite the provincial government reserving funds for local governments in both financial years.
The incumbent PTI-led provincial government had allocated 27 billion rupees for local governments. Despite this, the situation remains unchanged, indicating a persistent funding shortfall for local governments.
This disparity raises concerns about the adequacy of funds for local governments to effectively deliver services and address community needs, he said.
The non-availability of funding may exacerbate existing challenges and hinder development initiatives at the local level in the provincial capital, Mayor Peshawar said.
Haji Zubair Ali pointed out that the current provincial government has allocated Rs 27 billion for local governments in the budget 2024-25, but the funds remain unreleased.
Since installation of the local government system in KP, the provincial government has not released the funds allocated to local bodies through Provincial Finance Commission, he said.
According to the PFC, he maintained, the share of local government is 20 percent of the total provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Shehla Kamran, chairperson of Pakistan Minority Welfare Organization and councilor from NC82, has voiced her concerns about the challenges faced by her community due to non-availability of funds.
“In local bodies elections held in Peshawar, I was the first woman to be elected from her community through contested elections, I am determined to work towards addressing my community’s long standing issues and problems but having no power and resources all my plans are failing,” she added.
Kamran highlighted that her community is not typically involved in politics and expressed disappointment that the hopes from local elections seem unfulfilled.
Whether it’s access to sanitation, clean drinking water, or funding for local representatives, the minority community, particularly Christians, in Peshawar face numerous challenges, she added.
“The lack of funds for local body representatives elected from the minority community has left them feeling disappointed and neglected, despite their dire need for attention and support,” Shehla Kamran said.
It is pertinent to mention here that a large number of village and neighbourhood council chairpersons on Wednesday protested in front of the KP Assembly against the non-provision of funds to local bodies. The protest was staged to demand the release of funds for local government bodies, which have been facing financial constraints.
The protesters led by Mayor Peshawar Haji Zubair Ali demanded that the government release the funds allocated for local bodies to ensure the smooth functioning of local government institutions.
The village and neighbourhood council chairpersons from across the Peshawar district took part in the demonstration.
They closed Khyber Road for traffic and chanted slogans against the provincial government.
They were carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands.
Noor Islam, an independent researcher on governance and policies, said that generally, local bodies, meant to be autonomous institutions, are essential for nurturing democracy and political socialization, ensuring services reach people’s doorsteps. However, the local government system in Pakistan, particularly in KP, falls short of expectations, he said.
Islam maintained that “despite their importance, local government institutions in KP have been treated unfairly, compromising their autonomy and effectiveness. This has far-reaching consequences for democracy and the people’s trust in local governance.”
He lamented that local body representatives’ protest demonstrations across the province suggest that KP government’s actions have undermined the local government system, leaving it ineffective and inefficient.
“It is crucial to address these issues and strengthen local government institutions to ensure they serve their purpose,” he added.
