Govt issues Islamabad Local Government Ordinance

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has issued the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance, under which major changes have been made in the local government system in the federal capital.

According to the new ordinance, the Metropolitan Corporation will be abolished, and town corporations will be established.

Under the ordinance, three town corporations will be formed in Islamabad according to the boundaries of the National Assembly constituencies.

Each town corporation will have as many union councils as the government will notify, while the boundaries of the town corporation and union council can be amended after public objections and recommendations; however, changes in the boundaries will not be possible after the announcement of the election schedule.

According to the ordinance, local government will mean the union council and town corporation, where an administrator can also be appointed by the government.

If the local government is not functional, an administrator will be appointed there.

There will be a mayor and two deputy mayors in each town corporation. The chairman of the union council will be a general member of the town corporation.

In addition, each town corporation will include four women, one farmer or worker, one trader or businessman, one youth, and one non-Muslim member.

The general members of the union council will be elected through a secret ballot. The union council has been declared a multi-member ward, where one voter will vote for one general member candidate, while the 9 candidates who receive the most votes will be elected general members. Successful candidates will be able to join any political party within 30 days.

The general members will elect members to the reserved seats of the union council through a show of hands.

Later, the members of the general and reserved seats will also elect the chairman and vice-chairman from among themselves through a show of hands, who will be able to join a political party within 30 days.

The general members of the town corporation will elect the members of the reserved seats through a show of hands, while the members of the town corporation will jointly elect the mayor and deputy mayor by majority vote.

Only a member of the town corporation can contest the election of mayor or deputy mayor.

According to the ordinance, the local government or administrator will have the authority to impose taxes, fees, rent, tolls and other charges; however, each tax proposal will first be approved by the government.

The administrator’s tax proposals will be presented to the National Assembly after the government’s approval.

Furthermore, the local government or administrator will be able to increase, reduce, abolish or exempt taxes, but it is mandatory to follow the government’s instructions.

The new ordinance is being described as an important step towards restructuring the local government system in Islamabad and strengthening government control.