MISSION STATEMENT
The domain of Local Government encompasses virtually every problem and affairs that a common man experiences in his day to day life. From birth to death, from water supply, sanitation and education to marriage, disposal of refuse, roads, town planning etc.
For the sake of brevity, suffice to say that most of utilities and services necessary for life in a civilised society are extended by Local Government Department.
AGROVILLES are conceived to be relatively self contained urban settlements designed to ensure a more rational spread of urbanization in the country and to serve the surrounding rural areas. Agrovilles’ aim is to take urban facilities to rural areas
INTRODUCTION.
The Local Government system is best described as grass root representative democracy with all Institutional system. The present Local Government System contains the basic features of the local government system that was in vogue in 1980s and 1990s.
The “Local Government Structure” constitutes the third level of Government. First and second being the Federal and Provincial Governments. In pursuance of Articles 7 & 32 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Local Government activities are to be made operative through elected representatives (Presently suspended).
The Local Government Structures in rural and urban areas is as under: –
RURAL COUNCILS
Union Council for each Union, comprising a village or a number of villages having, as far as possible, an aggregate population between 7000 and 15000, excluding its urban areas and the cantonment areas.
District Council for each District, comprising the area of a revenue district, excluding its urban and the cantonment areas.
URBAN COUNCILS
Metropolitan Corporation for the Capital City comprising an urban area having population exceeding five lac;
Municipal Corporation for each City comprising an urban area having a population exceeding one lac but not exceeding five lac; and
Municipal Committee for each Municipality, comprising an urban area having a population exceeding 15000 but not exceeding one lac;
The Local Government Institutions in Balochistan are based on the Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010. The Local Councils are institutions of “Self-Government” to provide civic service and also undertake development projects financed mostly by the development grants of the Provincial Government and from their own resources.
The Local Government, Elections, and Rural Development Department are working to respond to the specific needs of the citizens of Balochistan falling within the ambit of local governance. The Department has been assigned the responsibility to implement the Balochistan Local Government Act 2013 and the Balochistan Local Government Amendment Act 2019 to achieve the stated objectives of the local government reforms introduced by the Government of Balochistan. The Department also has regulatory and administrative functions to ensure that the local governments throughout the province perform their roles and procedures within the policy framework introduced under the new law. Local governments constituted as a result of the enactment of the Balochistan Local Government Act 2013 are:
- City District Government for district Quetta
- District Government for districts other than Quetta
- Tehsil Municipal Administration for a Tehsil
- Town Municipal Administration for a town in the City District
- Village Council for a village in the rural areas
- Neighbourhood Council for a neighborhood in areas with urban characteristics
Our Vision
To enhance the local government’s ability to generate revenue and optimally utilize development funds while meeting the needs of their respective administrative units, including the ability to deliver municipal services and provide infrastructure.
Our Policy
- To enable cities and towns in the province to become engines of economic growth.
- To create efficient mechanisms for governance of urban and rural areas that can facilitate the flow of goods and services.
- To address inter-jurisdictional and intra-jurisdictional issues between cities, towns, and villages.
- To build the capacity of local governments to provide municipal infrastructure, facilities, and services.
Our Objectives
- Encouragement of local government institutions as an obligation and a principle of policy.
- Decentralization of government administration on the axis of expeditious disposal of business for the convenience of the public.
- Devolution of political, financial, and administrative authority and responsibility to elected representatives in local governments.
Strategic Intervention
- Improving citizen participation and bringing the state closer to the citizen.
- Outlining a framework for shared commitments of the government and development partners.
- Developing a common understanding of the local government system.
- Setting the context for the delivery of assistance of development partners for strengthening the local government system.
- Overseeing the placement of systemic arrangements, resource allocation, and support institutions.
- Contributing through the exchange of experience and lessons learned.
The three “i” Approach
Within the Department, our people and processes are guided by our three “i” approaches, i.e. integrity, innovation, and initiative.
Integrity
We set high-quality standards in providing essential public services. We remain responsive, open, transparent, and accountable with respect to our roles and functions toward our stakeholders.
Innovation
Urbanization trends, rural expansions, technological changes, demographic shifts, and scores of other newer phenomena inspire us to look out for unique solutions to address multifarious public sector development challenges.
Initiative
We have developed a culture of proactive approach within the Department which is characterized by utilizing available resources in swift and sustainable ways for the welfare of the citizens of Balochistan.
