Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and GIZ launches Local Governance (LoGo) Programme 2017-19 for strengthening of local government system in KP.

On the recommendation of Senior Minister Local Government Department, the Chief Minister KP approved the three-year German Swiss Funded Support to Local Governance Programme.

The Programme is focused on technical areas of strengthening the local governments, increasing local own source revenue and extending state-citizen dialogue. The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the recommendations of Senior Minister for Local Government has approved the three year Technical Assistance program for building the capacity of the local governments elected representatives and government functionaries in the light of new local government Act, 2013.

Support to Local Governance Program funded by German-Swiss governments in Pakistan to support the local government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in enhancing service delivery, increasing own source revenue as well as extending the dialogue with citizens, the program is in line with the governance reforms policy of the provincial government aimed at establishing and strengthening local governments to respond effectively to the public needs.

The three years program of German Development Cooperation in Pakistan is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and will be co-funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). It is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenar-beit (GIZ) GmbH.

The overall program consists of three interlinked intervention areas, supporting the Governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in strengthening the performance of local governments and elected councilors through the implementation of governance reforms.

Furthermore, local governments at provincial and sub-provincial level are being supported in the area of participatory development planning and budgeting in order to enhance the accountability and transparency of the local government system and ensure feedback opportunities for citizens, the programme supports the implementation of the Right to Information Act and feedback mechanism for citizens.

Provincial and local revenue generation is strengthened, by supporting provincial tax authorities, through piloting of revenue generation measures at the local level and raising public awareness about taxation.

It is important to mention here that the cited programme is being implemented under a proper agreement signed between the local government department, Excise and Taxation Department and GIZ under the oversight of Additional Chief Secretary Planning & Development and Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan. Detail annual activities shall be chalked out through annual planning workshops and approved by the programme Steering Committee.