Lahore: Pakistan Markazi Muslim League spokesperson Dr. Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi has called for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan’s local government system, saying it has reached a critical stage and requires urgent measures to improve governance and ensure effective delivery of basic services.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr. Hashmi said new administrative units should have been created much earlier to address administrative challenges and bring government services closer to the people.
He said citizens continue to face difficulties in accessing basic facilities because administrative powers and resources have not been effectively devolved to the grassroots level. The concentration of authority and resources in a few major centres and among influential groups, he added, had weakened local governance and adversely affected ordinary citizens.
Dr. Hashmi said the creation of new administrative units should be considered on the basis of administrative needs, population, public convenience and effective service delivery rather than political, ethnic or regional considerations.
He regretted that discussions on administrative reforms were often viewed through the prism of provincialism, ethnicity and political interests.
The spokesperson said major cities, including Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad, required empowered and effective local governments capable of resolving municipal issues at the local level. He questioned the reluctance of political leadership to transfer meaningful powers and resources to elected local representatives.
Dr. Hashmi urged political parties to rise above narrow political interests and support reforms in the broader public interest. He said political parties fearing a loss of traditional influence due to stronger local governments or the creation of new administrative units should reconsider their political approach.
