ISLAMABAD: The local government system, that has been ignored by democratic forces in Pakistan for last couple of years, plays a vital role in dealing with pandemics like COVID-19.
Democracy Reporting International (DRI) which works for democratic rights of the people, believes that absence of local government system in Pakistan not only creates a void in local political representation but also hampers efficient service delivery.
Transfer of power from up to downstream can ease the job of federal and provincials government executives, it believes.
According to DRI, local governments by design enjoy tremendous access to the grass-root communities and can play an instrumental role in the case of emergencies like COVID-19.
The outbreak of COVID-19 is worldwide phenomenon that has cost thousands of lives and almost has halted the global economy.
Pakistan is geographically divided into four provinces Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Sindh and Balochistan. Northern region named Gilgit Baltistan (GB) has its own legislative assembly. It enjoys almost the provincial status but it has not been declared a province constitutionally.
The think-tank DRI in its recent publication, has drawn the attention of executive towards local government system. Responding to such an outbreak and its unpredictable nature requires swift decision-making and grass root efforts, it said. A centralized approach is likely to be insufficient for the management and response of this pandemic, the publication added.
The best course of action in a post COVID-19 world will be for provinces to take steps towards holding local government elections as early as possible
The best course of action in a post COVID-19 world will be for provinces to take steps towards holding local government elections as early as possible, DRI said.
“After all, one should not have to wait to face pandemics to realise the usefulness of local governments” it added
According to data of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), more than 80,000 representatives of local body’s government system across the country are registered with the commission, who can contribute to ease and resolve the petty issues of local people on Street (Mohallah), Union Council, Tehsil and district level.
The most populated province of the country Punjab has 36 districts, Balochistan province has 34, Sindh 29, while the Khyber PakhtunKhawa province has 34 districts with accumulated population 212.2 million of the country.
Currently, total 1,202 elected representatives from different political parties for the national parliament and provincial assemblies have been enjoying the powers to run the government business; however general public that elected their representatives seemed normally helpless to approach these legislators to resolve their miseries particularly in the situation of national emergency.
National Assembly is seated with 342 members, Upper House of the parliament (Senate) is packed with 104 members, Punjab province is housed with 369 members, Khyber PakhtunKhawa provincial assembly is crowded with 124, Balochistan province has 65 seats and Gilgit Baltistan legislative assembly has a total number of representation of 32 members.
The international think-tank DRI in its observations said while efforts of cash distribution under the Ehsass Emergency Cash should include MPA’s of MNA’s from electoral districts teaming with a candidate securing the second highest votes in the same district, and team of community representatives which should be representative of village/neighborhood councils.
These community representatives should be tasked to ensure community feedback, coordination with the bureaucracy and provincial authorities.
The DRI recommended; strengthening response and relief efforts and ensuring community outreach, the restoration of previous local governments in Punjab, KP and Balochistan could be an option.
These re-instituted temporary local representatives are likely to still have a fair amount of influence, working knowledge and outreach given their previous tenures.
Delegation of tasks related to COVID-19 should be assigned to them and ensure they provide community feedback for a dynamic response effort, DRI added.
A columnist and social activist, Ahmed Ijaz while talking to The News Today expressed his serious concerns over ignoring local bodies system in the country by successive governments.
Sharing his thoughts over the current situation of pandemic COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan, he said local body representatives know the every single household in their constituency personally, adding that if the local body system was functional in the country, country could have more efficiently dealt the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ijaz believes that there were mainly four major factors that caused of spread COVID-19; returning home of pilgrims from Iran, Umrah pilgrims from Saudia Arabia, returning homes of overseas Pakistanis from highly affected countries of West like Spain, Italy, France, Germany, US. Religious gatherings of Raiwind also added to this.
The government and law enforcement agencies failed to collect data and identity of the people affected by COVID-19.
“I strongly believe that local bodies system is the only solution to find out and identify the people likely to be infected or those who traveled to or from the countries where COVID-19 outbreak is more serious”, he added.
(With additional input of Rana Tariq)
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