Bureaucrats no longer answerable to LB reps, says new Punjab LG Act

Under the new Punjab Local Government Act, bureaucrats have been separated from the local bodies (LBs) representatives as the former will now no longer be answerable to the latter, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

The deputy commissioner and local bodies will work separately.  

Now under the new arrangement, a mayor will not be authorized to summon the deputy commissioner (DC) to his office. 

Similarly, he will not be able to write the ACRs of the DC or police officials.

Funds will be released for the local bodies by the Punjab Finance Department and will be given to them by the Department of Local Government.   

Under the Act, the secretary local government has been assigned the task to hand over funds to LBs, which will also have a budget of their own.

Likewise, the local government department will also be responsible for the transfer of LB representatives. 

Reporter: Qaiser Khokhar