Junaid Toru
Provincial Minister for Local Government Arshad Ayub Khan has said that to bring transparency in the financial affairs of the local bodies, the accounts of these bodies are being digitized while the promotion of the local body officers will be subject to performance so as to make these bodies financially stable and to provide better services to the public. He was presiding over a meeting regarding the performance of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMAs) of Mardan district. Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru, DDAC chairman Zarshad Khan, provincial assembly members Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, Abdul Salam Afridi, Ameer Farzand Khan, Deputy Commissioner Mardan Dr. Azmatullah Wazir, WSSCM Board Chairman Engineer Adil Nawaz, Chief Executive Officer Shahid Khan, senior officials of Local Government Department and officers of other concerned departments were also present. The Provincial Minister was given a detailed briefing regarding the performance and financial matters of TMAs, AD Local Government and WSSCM. Arshad Ayub Khan directed the TMOs to work for increase in the rents of the properties of local bodies according to the market rate, revisit the allotment of government land according to the new lease policy and to take steps to increase the resources of TMAs with the approval of their respective councils. He also directed to resolve the issue of distribution of assets between TMA Mardan and Garhi Kapura at the earliest. Arshad Ayub Khan said that any kind of negligence in projects of public interest will not be tolerated. He urged the municipal bodies have to take measures on emergency basis to increase revenue. He directed to speed up operations against illegal housing societies in Mardan. The provincial minister said that all institutions should take measures to reduce the distance between the local bodies and the citizens and solve the problems faced by the citizens on a priority basis. He said that government was taking measures to
solarize offices and tubewells to save electricity. The problems of the local bodies will be solved on a priority basis, but these bodies should also increase their own income.
