Synthesis of LG Ord 1979, 2001 proposed

KARACHI - The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 effectively undercut the authority of the provincial government and created fiefdoms; thereby leading to a situation where the writ of the state was being undermined. However, the human rights organization has suggested a mix of LG Ordinances 1979 and 2001, proposing that Karachi will have three districts - Lyari, Keamari and Malir - each with their respective city district administration and towns. This was proposed at a seminar organised by the HRCP at its office in city. HRCP Director I.A Rehman, renowned economist Kaisar Bengali and others spoke in the seminar titled 'Local Government System'. The HRCP in its suggestions has proposed city district administrations for Karachi and Hyderabad, with Towns therein. The HRCP said that the gap between the two positions is wide and there is an urgent imperative to bridge the distance by synthesising elements of the two LG ordinances, such that it is acceptable to all major parties, creates a balance between province and districts, and serves the cause of improved service delivery. This is proposed, herewith, by separating the functions of civil administration and service delivery and creating well defined boundaries between the two. Essentially, it is proposed that while the provincial government retains civil administration functions, local government retains service delivery functions. The HRCP in its suggestion said that the Hyderabad city district administration is proposed to cover present Hyderabad district. Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah and Mirpurkhas and other urban centres with population between 250,000 to 1,000,000 are proposed to have metropolitan corporation status, to be called metropolitan administrations. All metropolitan administrations will comprise towns, with their own administrations. Urban centres with population size 50,000 to 250,000 are proposed to have municipal corporation status, to be called municipal administrations. Urban centres with population size 100,000 to 250,000 to have towns therein, with their own administrations. Urban centres with population size below 50,000 are proposed to have town administrations. All the entities - city district administrations, metropolitan administration, municipal administrations, and town administrations are proposed to be headed by nazims, elected from amongst their respective Councils. 33% of all councils are proposed to be women, to be elected directly by women voters.