ADVISER KUNWAR MUHAMMAD DILSHAD CALLS FOR CRITICAL REVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AT GOVERNMENT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LAHORE EVENT

A significant ceremony was convened at Government University College Lahore to mark the establishment of local governments. Kunwar Muhammad Dilshad, the Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Law and Parliamentary Affairs, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Vice Chancellor of Government College University, Lahore, presided over the event. The gathering also included esteemed participants such as Dr. Fauzia Ghani, Chairperson of the Political Science Department, Salman Abid, Professor Dr. Rasool Bakhsh Raees, Salman Ghani from Dunya News, Rao Manzar Hayat, a former Federal Secretary, and Brigadier Farooq Hameed.

Addressing the attendees, Adviser to the Chief Minister, Kunwar Muhammad Dilshad, delved into the historical origins of the concept of local governments in the Indian subcontinent. He emphasized that while the establishment of local governments traces back to various regions’ histories, the modern sense of local government emerged in the 19th century. He noted that municipal services predated British India in the subcontinent, with the formal local government system evolving from 1911 to 1935.

Dilshad highlighted the gradual progression of devolving power to lower levels in Pakistan, a process that commenced in the sixties and steadily advanced. Providing insights and recommendations, he underscored the importance of establishing a commission under Article 148 (A) of the Constitution of Pakistan. This commission, he proposed, would conduct a comprehensive review of electoral, political, and police reforms, as well as the local government system of Pakistan, offering valuable recommendations for legislative improvements. Additionally, he suggested the revival of the National Reconstruction Bureau in light of these considerations.