LAHORE: Civil society representatives, politicians and human rights’ activists termed the local governments as an essential ingredient of political process and political system around the world. Both strong democracies and countries in transition have become increasingly aware of the need to devolve power to the municipalities to gain further legitimacy and to improve the range of service delivery, they said during a consultation meeting on ‘Women’s Political Empowerment’ organised by South Asia Partnership (SAP) Pakistan at a local hotel on Friday. It was informed that this trend promises outcomes, a range of great benefits and enhanced outcomes, adding that local authorities on account of being placed strategically are also perceived as engines for growth and development. They said pressure from Supreme Court of Pakistan forced Sindh and Punjab governments to hold local government elections and finally, the first round happened in Sindh and process of election has been completed, but the Punjab government is still not ready to complete the process of election at all levels. Speakers on the occasion included women parliamentarians, representatives of civil society organisations, members of different political parties including Sadia Sohail (PTI) and Najma Malik (PML-N), Canadian High Commission First Secretary James Clark, Local Governance Initiative and Network (LOGIN) representative Kaneez Fatima and Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) regional head Salman Abid. In his speech, James Clark highlighted that local government system has a dynamic role to build a prosperous and democratic society in Pakistan. He appreciated the role of civil society for its struggle for the rights of people, especially women. He said that the women are the vanguard of development of any nation all over the world. Salman Abid on the occasion said that local governments must be independent bodies and more spaces should be given to participation of women to empower them politically. He suggested that in order to address issues pertaining to women in the political arena, a road map for political participation of women should be clear and based on their capacity to deal with matters they have to face to be in the elected bodies. Sadia Sohail said that the reserved seats for women are considered as the ‘Fill in the Blank’, which is a non-serious and negative attitude towards political empowerment of women. “We should encourage the women folk, who are capable to contest election and should be given opportunities to be empowered politically,” she added.