Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Tuesday that local bodies’ institutions will be strengthened and made fully functional.

He said that the power and authority will be devolved at the grassroots so that problems of the people could be solved at their doorsteps.

This would provide them necessary relief as the agenda of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government is to provide different facilities to the general public along with timely solution of their problems, he added.

In a statement, Punjab CM Sardar Usman Buzdar said that PTI is going to introduce a new local bodies system through consultations and added that it would provide necessary relief to the people.

He said that the government will grant authority to the local bodies’ representatives and a system of check and balance will also be put in place.

“The representatives of the people will be answerable to the people as the focus of the new system is general public and their problems to be solved timely,” the Punjab chief minister said adding that new local bodies system will do away with the outdated status quo and would greatly help to solve the problems in deprived areas.

“Local bodies are being strengthened for achieving the goal of a new Pakistan. The new system would depict the desires and aspirations of the people,” he said.

Sardar Usman Buzdar said that in line with the agenda of Prime Minister Imran Khan, a system of check and balance will also be introduced in the local bodies to ensure complete transparency. A system is being designed which will solve the problems at the grassroots. In the system, people will be fully empowered and there would also be a system of punishment and reward, he added.

Separately, Usman Buzdar said that new dimensions would be given to cooperation with China in Punjab.

He expressed these views while talking to Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing at Punjab House.

He said that China has assured of its every possible cooperation to Punjab in different projects, including promotion of agriculture, eradication of poverty, initiating the process of development in the neglected southern areas of Punjab and provision of potable water to the people. He said that process of reforms is being speedily implemented in the Punjab of new Pakistan as a result of it, new opportunities of foreign investment are being generated besides providing all-out facilities and protection to the investors.

The Chinese ambassador congratulated Buzdar and said that the Chinese government will extend every possible cooperation to the new government in Pakistan in all sectors of life and Pakistan-China friendship will be further strengthened in days to come.

On a separate note, Buzdar expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of Council of Islamic Ideology former chairman Justice (r) Tanzilur Rahman.

In his condolence message, the Punjab CM prayed that may Almighty Allah rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

Buzdar also condoled the death of journalist Zaheeruddin Babar.

In his condolence message, the chief minister said that late Zaheerud Din Babar played an important role in promotion of responsible journalism and his services will be remembered forever.

Published in Daily Times, September 26^th 2018.