ABBOTTABAD, Oct 30: The NWFP local government department will initiate a Rs21-million project to establish a modern drainage system and improve the condition of roads in urban areas of Haripur and Khalabat Township, provincial Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Mohammad Idrees said on Sunday.

He was talking to newly-elected local bodies members of Haripur Tehsil Council at an Iftar reception at a local hotel in Haripur. Former provincial minister Sardar Mohammad Mushtaq and JUI-F leader Pir Alamzeb Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Sardar Mohammad Idrees said that the provincial government would fully encourage local bodies’ representatives to devise uplift plans for their areas which would be funded by the provincial government under different foreign-aided projects beyond district tehsil council budgets.

He assured that necessary steps would also be taken to ensure equal allocation of local bodies’ development funds for all members of local councils, including those elected against women and special seats, so that they could fulfil the aspirations of the people of their areas.

Referring to the recent amendments made in the Local Government Ordinance (LGO) 2001, the provincial minister said that the provincial government has been given powers to check the affairs of the local bodies and review their budgets. Therefore, he added, no head of any council would now be able to distribute funds among his blue-eyed boys only.

He claimed that misappropriation of funds, misuse of powers and other irregularities have also been barred with the help of the amendments.

He asked councillors to keep a vigilant eye on the affairs of their respective councils and struggle for the rights of the people who elected them and ensure proper utilization of development funds.

He assured that the provincial government would extend every possible help and cooperation in this regard.

Regarding the forthcoming Naib Nazims’ election in district and tehsil councils, Mr Idrees made it clear that the provincial government was strictly following the policy of non-interference in these elections as the provincial ministers could not make any candidate win or lose while sitting in Peshawar.

He, however, asked the councillors to unite themselves under one platform and choose only those candidates who could run the house in a just manner and in accordance with the provision of rules.

He said that no force on earth could deny the councillors of the right for an equal share in development funds as well as their proper and due involvement in other affairs of public interest if they maintain their unity and struggle in an effective way to protect the rights of the people.—PPI