LAHORE: The government has directed the tehsil and district transition committees across the province to hold their meetings soon after Eid holidays on July 23 to devise an action plan for restoration of the local institutions in line with apex court’s March 25 short order and the July 6 detailed judgment.

“It is to inform you that as per directions of the Lahore High Court, coordinators of the tehsil and district transition committees are required to hold the first meeting on July 23, soon after Eid to devise the action plan for early implementation of directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” reads a letter sent by the local government and community development department to all assistant and deputy commissioners on Tuesday.

The committees have further been asked to submit the action plan for restoration of the local governments to the provincial committees through their respective divisional committees.

The Punjab government has been given seven working days by the high court -- the apex court verdicts’ implementing legal forum -- to submit the action plan leading to revival of the local bodies’ institutions within a shortest time.

During hearing on July 19 (Monday), Chief Secretary Jawad Rafiq Malik had apprised the court that the provincial committee formed to deliberate upon the SC judgment and the restoration of the LG system is scheduled to meet after Eid holidays and sought time to furnish a detailed reply. The judge adjourned further hearing till July 28 and also allowed the government to use the LG funds through administrators to the extent of payments of salaries and pensions only.

However, the court warned the government against the use of the LG funds for any development scheme.

The government also on Monday notified transition committees at provincial, divisional, district and tehsil level. The provincial committee will be headed by the special secretary and the divisional committees by the respective commissioners, the district and tehsil committees will be headed by deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners.

The district committees consist of deputy director of local government (secretaries) and heads and opposition leaders of restored local governments (except union councils), additional deputy commissioners, chief officers as members besides any other member co-opted with consensus. The tehsil teams will be led by the assistant commissioners and consist of chairmen/persons and secretaries of the restored union councils, assistant director (local government) and any other members co-opted jointly be the committee.

LWMC: The Lahore Waste Management Company is all set to launch its first Eid operation (disposal of sacrificial animals’ offals) on Wednesday (today) after becoming operational state-owned firm.

“The LWMC has now become a company that will directly undertake the responsibility of waste management operations in the city. So this Eid is a test case for this company,” minister for local bodies Mian Mehmoodur Rashid said at at a press conference along with the secretary local government and the senior LWMC officials here on Tuesday.

“We also appreciate LWMC for clearing the backlog and heaps around the city after the termination of the contract with international contractors,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2021