Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Local representatives have termed the newly-released Rs 1.3 billion funds as inadequate to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).

The local government in Islamabad recently received the first installment of Rs 1.3 billion against a promised amount of Rs 2.6 billion.

Islamabad’s first local government elections were held on November 30, 2015, at the direction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

After the elections, the government did not give adequate support to the local government setup and the MCI was forced to cover its expenditures by taking loans from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for non-development and development projects.

The corporation had repeatedly requested the government to provide it Rs 10 billion in non-development funds for meeting expenses including the payment of salaries. However, the federal government only approved 25 percent of the MCI’s demand.

CDA Finance Member Dr Fahad Aziz confirmed the receipt of the amount. “We have received Rs 1.3 billion for covering the salaries of past three months from January, 2017 to March, 2017,” he said.

“The remaining amount of already committed funds will be received in three equal monthly installments, but such installments for April 2017 are still awaited,” he said.

The residents of Islamabad had voted for local representatives hoping their problems will be resolved, after facing bureaucratic hurdles for decades.

The local government setup is yet to bring about any change as major issues have not been addressed, including garbage collection, water shortage, a poor sewerage system, encroachments, parking issues, cleanliness in public parks and dysfunctional street lights due to the shortage of funds.

On the other side, Opposition Leader in Metropolitan Corporation Ali Awan criticised the government for ignoring the local government. “The local government system is not a priority for the incumbent government. It is the reason behind the non availability of funds,” he said.

“The released Rs 1.3 billion are for non-development purposes. However, there is nothing for development funds so far. This is a hindrance in launching public welfare projects,” he said.

He also criticised the role of Mayor Shaikh Ansar Aziz as CDA chairman; “Aziz is more interested in his role as the CDA chairman and not as the elected mayor of the city,” he said.