Existing Status Report: CHINIOT Chapter-1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The objective of the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) is to improve the financial and institutional capacity of local governments to deliver urban infrastructure services by capacity building and performance-based matching grants for infrastructure improvement. It aims to provide investment grants and capacity building for qualified Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs). These grants will be of two types: i) Development Grants ii) Capacity Building Grants Capacity building grants will improve the urban planning, financial management and investment planning for service delivery. It is envisaged that the capacity grants will offer both technical assistance and also the resources to implement the components of technical assistance. According to the procedures set out for PMSIP, the TMAs will apply for grants to PMDFC. TMAs eligibility will be based on baseline assessment carried out by PMDFC. The application for the capacity grant will be based on a detailed assessment of the TMA’s existing capacity on planning, budgeting and financial management. The process for the Capacity Building Grants will be specific to each TMA, which can apply for both capacity and development grants in each year, subject to satisfactory appraisal by PMDFC and based on meeting the performance target for any previous grant. It is proposed that PMDFC will set a minimum size of grants, in order to ensure that investments made under the project are meaningful in building capacity, not just an additional source of funding. The preparation of a plan is the basic requirement of PMSIP. The development projects will be identified as a result of the plan, which will be subsequently prioritized for funding. The specific requirements of PMSIP funding are as follows: i) The PMSIP development grants will fund municipal services. These are largely confined to the urban areas or CO units. The plan that is developed will be restricted to the UCs falling in CO Units ii) PMSIP requires the TMAs to prioritize projects and capacity building programs based on improved service delivery. The plan will develop a general list of required development and capacity projects and 1 Existing Status Report: CHINIOT specifically identify those projects and programs that are eligible for PMSIP funding. iii) Because of existing capacity constraints the focus of planning component in the first year initially will be on planning the existing system, including coverage, operations and finance and management, rather than on the future. 1.2 Historical Growth of CHINIOT Chiniot is an old town with history dating back to considerable antiquity. Alexander the Great encamped in the surrounding of the town in the year 325 BC. Chankia a renowned scholar and great politician, who was an Advisor to Chandar Gupt Mooriah during 305 to 298 BC has named Chiniot as his native town in his famous book ‘Earth Shaster’. Being strategically located at the gorge of the river, it has always been very attractive for the rulers from administration and defence point of view. The foundation of the present town is attributed to Rani Channi who was sister of Macchi Khan, the ruler of Khushab. It reflects all the characteristics of an old city as it is located on a raised site, had narrow winding streets, walled and protected residential districts, narrow oriental bazaars etc. Chiniot is celebrated for its masonry and wood carving since very old days. Chiniot is situated on North West of Chenab River. It is located at distance of 86 Km from Jhang and is connected by 60 ft wide metteled road. The town of Chiniot is also connected with major cities namely Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha by metteled road. Lahore is 140 Km, Faisalabad is 30 Km while Sargodha is 58 Km away. Physical growth of the town can be divided into three phases. i) Old Town Fort Raikhti, fortification wall, a market and many other important buildings were constructed by Nawab Wazir Ali Khan during his Governorship of the area. All of these structures have disappeared, except for a few signs of the Fort, the wall and the market near Shahi Mosque. This part of town including Bazar Kalan, Muslim Bazar and the residential localities like Mohallah Garha, Mohallah Lahori Gate, Mohallah Rikhti, Mohallah Aali, Mohallah Kamangran etc. had grown by the end of Moghal Empire. ii) Down Town Area The city witnessed no considerable growth till the English took over Punjab in 1849. It regained some significance and some building activities restarted when it was made Tehsil Headquarter during the same period. The buildings like railway Station, Government Offices i.e Police Station, Courts, Municipal Committee Office etc; and residential localities like Abadi Eisawala, Mohallah Chah Jogian, Thati Sharqi and Thathi Gharbi were constructed during the English Period. The most 2 Existing Status Report: CHINIOT outstanding residential building of this area is Mahal of Rai Ummer Hayat, which still exists in this part of the town. iii) Peripheral Town After partition, the Hindu families shifted to India and rich Muslim Khoja families established their business in other cities like Faisalabad, Karachi, Multan and Lahore. As a result the growth of the town was allowed down considerably. Apart from this, permanent danger of flooding also discouraged the building activities in the town. For the last two decades, flood control measures and establishment of a few of industrial units have accelerated the pace of development in the city and its population is increasing at a fast rate. The part of the town developed after partition includes the residential localities like Mustafaabad, Abadi Muhammadpura, Mohallah Karamanabad, Muskeenpura and Satellite Town. Shamas Textile Mills and a few other industrial units and workshops have also been constructed during this period. 1.3 Establishment of Working Group and Steering Committee as arrangement for Plan Preparation The arrangements for plan preparation are made by establishing a Working Group to facilitate the process of plan preparation. The Nazim constitutes a planning steering committee consisting of the TMO, and all the TO’s to act as an advisory group in the preparation of the plan. Whereas, the Working Group will actually get involved and collaborate with consultants for completion of various tasks for this purpose. The Working Group is proposed to consist of the officials seconded by the Planning Section and Infrastructure & Services Section of TMA. The hierarchy of institutional arrangements for the Plan Preparation is as follows: i) Tehsil Nazim ii) Planning Steering Committee iii) Working Group 3 Existing Status Report: CHINIOT Chapter-2 Status of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) CHINIOT 2.1 Introduction to TMA TMA Chiniot is one of the three TMAs of District Jhang. Chiniot is the main town of the TMA. The Tehsil is predominantly rural with only 8 urban union councils and 32 rural union councils. According to 1998 Population and Housing Census, total population was 965,124 including 172,522 urban population. This section describes TMA regarding its resources, capacity in terms of human resource, office equipment etc. The approach to manage municipal and financial matters is also revealed. The performance regarding preparation of Annual Development Plan, registration of CCBs, Complaint Redressal etc. is easy to gauge from the following Fig.1 TMA Office Chiniot illustration. There are four main CO units in Chiniot, which are as follows i) Chiniot ii) Chenab Nagar iii) L alian iv) Bhawana The following description mainly pertains to the current existing report for Chiniot City. 4 Existing Status Report: CHINIOT 2.2 Institutional Framework of TMA Chiniot The key components of institutional framework under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001 are as follows: i. Tehsil Nazim The Tehsil Nazim is a key person who administers the overall Tehsil. He is directly concerned with any type of development occurring in the jurisdiction of Tehsil. Additionally, he approves the budget for development activities which are identified and selected by Naib Nazim who is the coordination officer between the four Tehsil Officers i.e. Tehsil Officer (Finance), Tehsil Officer (Infrastructure & Services), Tehsil Officer (Regulations) and importantly Tehsil Officer (Planning & Coordination). As a whole he is responsible for all actions taken on behalf of TMA. ii. Tehsil Municipal officer (TMO) Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) is the coordination officer between the four Tehsil Officers like TO Finance, TO infrastructure, TO Regulation and TO Planning & Coordination. Presently, there are three town officers working under Town Municipal Officer. There is no TO Planning in TMA Chiniot. TO infrastructure and services is performing the functions of Tehsil Officer Planning as an additional charge. The building plan approval is granted by TO infrastructure. Other functions of TO planning are not being carried out in TMA Chiniot. There is only one sub engineer and one building inspector in the planning department. Existing institutional set up and the responsibilities of the officials have been elaborated in the following organogram. 5 Existing Status Report: CHINIOT Figure 2: Institutional Framework of TMA Chiniot Tehsil Nazim Tehsil Naib Nazim Private Secretary CO (Head Quarter) Council Officer TMO Office Superintendent Council Clerk TO (Planning & TO (Infrastructure & Coordination) TO (Regulation) TO (Finance) Services) Land use Control Issuances of