Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Panelists at a seminar expressed dismay over inequitable distributions of funds and unprecedented decrease in district government funds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and asked the provincial government to ensure the legitimate funds allocations to local bodies system.

The speakers also stressed the need of fully transferring of financial powers to local government representatives to utilize development funds in efficient manner, besides they slammed the gradual decrease in budget of local bodies over the last two-years. The seminar on titled as “Promoting Equity in Budgets and Governance Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Financial year 2015-16 and 2016-17”, organized by Umar Asghar Foundation, a civil society organization at press club here on Wednesday.

“The allocations of 30 per cent of funds for local bodies system, is far away to reality, as per the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013. A decrease in funds has been noticed over the past two-financial periods in KP, said Rashid Dohad, Executive Director Umar Asghar Foundation in her keynote speech on the occasion.

She revealed that in financial year 2015-16, the provincial government allocated 29 per cent funds for local government, while it was decreased to 26.9 per cent in the current fiscal year.

A female tehsil member from district Haripur, has criticized the provincial government over lack of proper funding and shelter facility to them. She called for proper utilization of funds along with transferring the power to local government representatives with true spirit.

However, the PTI district members on the occasion has disagreed with critical remarks by female tehsil members and said that the incumbent provincial government had taken initiatives to empower local government members at all level.

Rashid Dohad further said the provincial government had given only 2.72 per cent share to southern districts under the Provincial Financial Commission (PFC), as compared to 21 per cent funding to three districts including Nowshera, Tank and Battagram. She demanded of the provincial government to ensure equitable distribution of funds to district governments under the PFC.

Similarly, she expressed concern over allocations of block funds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She informed that a sharp surge in discretionary funds has been noticed from last four years, and called for immediate its withdrawal. Syed Jaffar Shah while speaking on the occasion assured that he would move a adjournment motion in provincial assembly with regard to findings on provincial budgets of the Umar Asghar Foundation.

Amna Sardar reaffirmed the same commitment with local government representatives to raise voice for their rights at provincial assembly floor. She criticized the provincial government for allocations of block funds, and huge cut in budgetary allocation to local governments.