INFORMATION & LG MINISTER AMIR MIR REVIEWS DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Lahore, July 10:
Provincial Minister for Information and Local Government Amir Mir has said that the local government department should implement laws related to stopping illegal constructions. People should never have the impression that corruption is easy in a caretaker government. The problems of parking in hospitals should be solved with the help of parking companies. It should be remembered that the one-window services, under the local government, should not be exhibitory and people would only trust the public sector if their problems are resolved on the spot. Meanwhile, easy access of the public to the local government department should be ensured through ‘your municipality.’ Apart from Lahore and Faisalabad, facilities of parking companies should also be provided in other districts. The local bodies will continue to have the full support of the caretaker government for the provision of public services.
These views were expressed by Provincial Minister Amir Mir while presiding over his introductory meeting with the local government and community development department here today. Other participants of the meeting included Secretary Local Government Irshad Ahmad, Additional Secretaries of Local Government Department and Punjab Local Government Board and Director General.
Secretary Irshad Ahmad gave a detailed briefing on the structure, scholarships and ongoing projects of the department, adding that according to the distribution made under the Local Government Act of 2013, 118 local governments, out of 229 local governments across Punjab, are continuing with their approved land development plans. The Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company has expanded to 9 divisions while nine solid waste management companies and two parking companies are operating, across the province, under the department. He added that the department is outsourcing the parking companies to improve the delivery of local government services and increase resources. Earlier, Punjab Cattle Marketing Company was outsourced which significantly increased the revenues of the department, he said.
On the inquiry of the minister, the secretary said that complaints related to illegal constructions are being redressed under the department. A one-window operation has been started in the district headquarters to solve the problems of the citizens. He further said that the system of tax collection on the transfer of immovable urban property under the local government department is being digitized. In addition to eliminating human intervention in obtaining birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, very soon, all these certificates will be available online. He said that the performance of the department has been affected by the changes in the structure of local governments with the amendments in the Local Government Act, but reforms are being introduced to improve the performance. On the orders of the caretaker Chief Minister, work has been started on the complaint management information system in the department and an online dashboard, mobile app, helpline and WhatsApp number will be issued in connection with ‘your municipality,’ he concluded.
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