A meeting regarding comprehensive planning for the four recently established Town Municipal Corporations and 172 Urban Union Councils in District Quetta was held under the chairmanship of Secretary Local Government & Rural Development, Abdul Rauf Baloch. The meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government Board Shujaat Ali, Additional Secretary Local Government & Rural Development Sanaullah Qureshi, Secretary Election Cell Local Government Department Abdul Waheed Badini, Deputy Secretary Mir Asad Khan, along with other concerned officers.
During the meeting, detailed deliberations were held on the administrative, financial, and organizational matters of the four newly established towns—Takatu Municipal Corporation, Chiltan Municipal Corporation, Sariab Municipal Corporation, and Zarghoon Municipal Corporation—as well as the 172 Urban Union Councils.
Addressing the meeting, Secretary Local Government & Rural Development Abdul Rauf Baloch stated that the establishment of offices for the newly formed towns and Urban Union Councils, along with the posting and appointment of officers and staff of the respective municipal corporations, would be completed at the earliest so that these institutions could become operational in a timely manner. He added that the procurement process for essential machinery, furniture, and other facilities for the Town Municipal Corporations would also be expedited.
The Secretary further emphasized that a clear delineation of powers and functions, demarcation of jurisdictions, and fair distribution of assets between the Metropolitan Corporation Quetta and the Town Municipal Corporations would be ensured. In addition, an integrated and practical strategy would be adopted between the Metropolitan and Town Municipal Corporations to strengthen the system of tax and fee collection.
He stated that the primary objective of all these measures is to ensure the timely and effective provision of basic civic facilities and essential services to the public at the local government level. The Secretary directed the concerned departments to accelerate the planning process through mutual cooperation and coordination so that the newly established local government institutions become functional at the earliest and citizens are provided with improved, transparent, and quality municipal services.