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Survival of 18th amendment depends on new LG system: PM

Survival of 18th amendment depends on new LG system: PM
May 6, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday termed that the survival of 18th amendment only on the new local government (LG) system. The prime minister said during the conversations with senior journalists in the federal capital. “I do not know, how the rumours regarding presidential system surfaced,” he added.
New LG system to bring new leadership
Imran Khan has said that the new LG system introduced in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was adopted after thorough research on different governance system implemented in many countries around the world. PM Khan that a new leadership will emerge through the new LG system. “Direct elections will be held for village council in KP and panchayat in Punjab under new LG system,” he mentioned. He said in urban centers, mayors will be directly elected, and they will collect revenue to improve condition of cities in a better way. The prime minister said that the older system increased corruption on local level where union council (UC) members usually blackmailed district nazim. He announced that the government will provide direct funds to every village council for development work.
Rs40bn funds to be allocated for village councils in Punjab
PM Khan detailed that Rs40 billion funds will be allocated for 22,000 village councils of Punjab province.
Election will be held into two levels
“Under the new system, election will be held into two levels. Citizens can directly elect a tehsil nazim in the new system,” he highlighted. “An elected representative is allowed to bring his own cabinet in cities, whereas, in bigger cities, mayor will also be authorised to make his own cabinet.”
Panchayats in Punjab
Commenting on the panchayats in Punjab, the premier said, “In older system, district nazim was elected indirectly, but now polls will be held on 22,000 panchayats across the province and election will be organised on tehsil level.”
Revenue collection
“All funds will be spent on citizens and every city will collect its revenue by own. Lahore city collects $32 million revenue annually and how can we get prosper if the cities failed to collect its revenue,” he announced.
London, Tehran and India
Shedding light on London system, the prime minister said, “Even if you observe London’s system, people are directly electing their mayor. London mayor brings his own cabinet. In Tehran, you will see cleanliness everywhere in the city despite sanctions imposed on Iran. Moreover, all revenue collections were made by bigger cities in India as well.”
Presidential system
PM Khan rejected speculations circulating around for consideration of presidential system in Pakistan. He said, “I don’t know, who is saying that the government is planning for presidential system.” “I really don’t know about the presidential system’s debate, which suddenly emerges,” he said.
FBR chairman
During the media briefing session, Imran Khan announced that Shabbar Zaidi has been appointed as chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
18th amendment
The prime minister was of the view that the federal government went bankrupt due to the 18th Constitutional Amendment as the provinces were failed in tax collection. To a question, the premier said that mafias will always react over changes and reformations.