District councils and municipal company systems must be abolished when the new framework is implemented
RAWALPINDI:
Rawalpindi city has been divided into two parts under the new local government system. The towns will be Rawal Town One and Rawal Town Two, or other names may be assigned later.
The city will now include two cities, each with its own mayor, while a total of four deputy mayors will be appointed. Under this system, the district council and municipal corporation framework will be completely abolished.
Besides, according to the sources, Rawalpindi District has been divided into seven towns under the new local government structure.
The division has been made along Murree Road, with all union councils on one side of Murree Road included in Town One, while union councils on the other side will fall under Town Two.
A separate Potohar Town will be formed, consisting of rural union councils. Similarly, other tehsils in District Rawalpindi will be designated as towns, including Kallar Syedan Town, Kahuta Town, Gujar Khan Town and Taxila Town.
Under the new system, the District Council will be permanently abolished, while the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation will also cease to exist. As soon as the schedule for local government elections in Punjab is announced, the new city-based system will become operational.
Across Punjab, local government elections are being seriously considered on a non-party basis in the first half of the new year, likely in April or May. Under this system, union councils will also be reorganized.
The ward system within the association council has been abolished, and each individual councilor will now represent the entire association council district. After being elected, all councilors – including labor councilors – will elect their chairman and deputy chairman by majority vote.
Former mayor of Rawalpindi Sardar Naseem Khan welcomed the new local government system of two mayors and four deputy mayors for the city. He said the system would facilitate delivery of public services, lead to record-breaking development projects and ensure that public problems are solved at people’s doorsteps.
He added that the new year would be the year of local government and once the local bodies are formed, new development initiatives will begin.
