Taseer restores Nazims’ powers

Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer has announced immediate restoration of administrative, financial and constitutional powers of the district Nazims in the province. Besides, the governor has also announced to withdraw the cases registered against them, saying that they were based on political victimisation. He made this announcement while talking to the media after chairing a meeting of 28 district Nazims on Saturday.Khanewal Nazim Ahmad Yar Hiraj, Jhang Nazim Sultan Hameed, Khushab Nazim Malik Ghulam Muhammad Tiwana, Chakwal Nazim Sardar Ghulam Abbas, Rawalpindi Nazim Raja Javed Akhlas, Gujranwala Nazim Ch Fayyaz Chattha, Sialkot Nazim Akmal Cheema, Rahimyar Khan Nazim Sardar Rafiq Haider Laghari, Nankana Nazim Mumtaz Ali Shah and Narowal Nazim Dr Naimat Ali Javed attended the meeting. The governor said all the commissioners and the district coordination officers had also been directed to respect the Nazims and facilitate them in the execution of their development projects. He said the government wanted to continue the development schemes in the province by working together. He said the government would strengthen the district Nazims. Earlier, addressing the meeting, he said the funds of the Nazims, which were frozen a year ago, would be released to the district governments according to the Provincial Finance Award and its notification would be issued this week.Funds for reforming the education sector would be released later whereas the ongoing projects of the Citizens Community Boards have immediately been restored. The governor said the district governments are the foundation of democracy, which cannot flourish without the local body system.He said the Nazims could have their personal affiliations but the institution of the district government was a platform for development.Taseer announced to 'cap' the funds released to DCOs on verbal orders by the previous provincial government and the concerned DCOs could no longer utilise these funds. He said these funds were released in violation of the Local Government Ordinance.The governor said the government would speedily execute the Rs 34 billion Lahore-Sialkot Motorway project. He announced immediate release of two billion rupees for land acquisition, which was stopped by the previous government. He said the offices taken away from the district Nazims would be given them back in certain districts.He said the Nazims would hold open Kutcherys twice a month for resolving problems of the people. The provincial government has issued directions to all DCOs and DPOs to give respect to the constitutional status of the Nazims and ensure their participation in the open Kutcherys and implement the orders of the Nazims, he added.