ISLAMABAD: National Assembly NA-48’s opposition member Asad Umar who belongs to Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) wants amendment in the ‘Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Local Government (Amendment) Act’ for the increase in powers of the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) and union councils falling under it.
Asad Umar on Tuesday introduced the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill – 2017 in the National Assembly seeking transparent formula based distribution of MCI resources among the union councils through formation of a Capital Financial Commission.
The legislation also seeks removal of non-elected Local Government Board and Local Government Commission, increased participation of vice chairmen and councilors in working of the MCI and increased financial autonomy for both the MCI and Union Councils.
Through the proposed amendment bill, also demands all the employees of the local government shall be appointed on the basis of local residence of the territory up to BPS-4.
He has also proposed removal of sections 95, 96. 97 and 98 in order to abolish the non-elected Local Government Board and the Local Government Commission.
According to the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, the Local Government Board has been given powers to make appointments, order transfers, take disciplinary action and deal with other service matters in respect of the members of the prescribed local government service cadre.
Asad Umar proposed amendment in Section 117, so that instead of government the Parliament may formulate rules for functioning of the local government.
Asad Umar’s proposed amendment bill also seeks maximum participation of Union Councils in the Local Government system by giving them powers to enforce all municipal laws, execute and manage development plans, prevent and remove encroachments, regulate affixing of sign-board and provide and manage many services like water supply, sanitation, sewage etc.
Parallel to this bill vide another amendment in Section 82, Asad Umar has proposed that the local government should get provisional share from the total tax collected by FBR on services in the Islamabad Capital Territory.