Published by: Centre for Public Policy and Governance, Forman Christian College University Address: Zahoor Ellahi Road, Lahore, Pakistan T +92 42 99231581-88 Ext.: 388 F +92 42 99230703 I http://cppg.fccollege.edu.pk Project Director Professor Dr. Saeed Shafqat Authors Dr. Raja M. Ali Saleem Zainab Altaf Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Gmbh Disclaimer: This document has been developed and produced with the support of the German Federal Government through the Support to Local Governance Programme implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. 1 CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Key Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 6 First Consultation Report (with Public Servernts)................................................................................. 8 Introduction .................................................................................................... 9 Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 10 Acronyms .................................................................................................. 12 Inaugural Session ..................................................................................... 13 Session 1: Critical assessment of local government ordinances/acts with special reference to the PLGA 2013 ........................................................................................................................... 14 Local Government Ordinance 2001 ............................................................. 14 Punjab Local Government Act 2013 ............................................................ 14 Punjab Local Government Act 2019 ............................................................ 16 Session 2: Relationship with elected officials (and with other service groups): Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 for the implementation of the PLGA 2019 .................................... 16 Undefined Roles and Responsibilities .......................................................... 16 Overburdened and Understaffed .................................................................. 16 Demand for Capacity Building Workshops .................................................. 17 Session 3: Accountability Issues: Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 for the implementation of the PLGA 2019 .................................................................................................................. 18 Accountability through Media and Citizen’s portal ..................................... 18 Accountability Mechanisms in PLGA 2019 ................................................. 18 Criticism of Imperious Provincial Oversight ............................................... 19 Session 4: Gender Concerns: Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 for the implementation of the PLGA 2019 ............................................................................................................................. 20 Revised quotas for Women, Minorities and Youth ....................................... 20 Increase in Minimum Age Limit of Candidates ........................................... 20 Reservations regarding the title ‘Panchayats’ .............................................. 20 Comparison of the Women Quota under Various Local Government Legislations .................................................................................................. 21 Lack of Elucidation of Female Representatives’ Role ................................. 21 Session 5: Minority and Youth Issues: Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 for the implementation of the PLGA 2019 .................................................................................................................. 22 Minority Representation under the PLGA 2019 as compared to the PLGA 2013 ......................................................................................... 22 Hindrances to Inclusive Representation of Minority Groups ....................... 22 Provisions for the Participation of Youth in the PLGA 2019 ....................... 22 Youth Bulge as Demographic Dividend ....................................................... 23 Award of Certificates .................................................................................... 23 List of participants ........................................................................................ 24 Second Consultation Report (With Former Local Government Representatives) ............................ 26 Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 27 Inaugural session .......................................................................................... 29 2 Session 1: Provincial Government: Interference and control, with special reference to the PLGA 2013 ...................................................................................................................... 30 Disrupted Tenures ......................................................................................... 30 Lack of Fiscal Autonomy ............................................................................. 30 Provincial Oversight on Local Governance ................................................. 30 Session 2: Relationship with Bureaucracy: Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 ............................ 32 Bureaucratic Interference and Obstruction .................................................. 32 Power Tussle between the ‘Elected’ and the ‘Selected’ ............................... 32 Civil Service Reform .................................................................................... 33 Session 3: Performance and Accountability: Lessons learnt from the PLGA 2013 ......................... 34 Elections as an Accountability Mechanism .................................................. 34 Lack of Funds as an Impediment to Service Delivery ................................. 35 Feasibility of Direct Elections proposed by PLGA 2019 ............................. 35 Session 4: Minorities and Youth Issues: Lessons Learnt from the PLGA 2013 ................................ 36 Issues regarding Reserved Seats .................................................................. 36 Need for Voter Sensitization Campaigns ...................................................... 36 Criticism of Separate Electorates ................................................................. 37 Electoral Representation of the Youth .......................................................... 37 Disapproval of the Youth Quota Abolition under the PLGA 2019 ............... 37 Need for Capacity-building of Youth Representatives ................................. 38 Session 5: Gender Mainstreaming and Role of Women Representatives: Lessons Learnt from the PLGA 2013 ............................................................................................................ 39 Criticism of Reduction of Women Quota in PLGA 2019 ............................ 39 Unavailability of Funds for Women-led Projects ......................................... 40 List of Participants ....................................................................................... 41 Third Consultation Report (With Civil Society) ................................................................................... 42 Executive summary ...................................................................................... 43 Inaugural Session ......................................................................................... 45 Session 1: Debate on the PLGA 2019 .................................................................................................... 46 Devolution under the PLGA and VP & NC Act 2019 .................................. 46 Rural-Urban Divide ...................................................................................... 46 Lack of Capacity .......................................................................................... 46 Capacity Building: A prerequisite ................................................................ 47 Ambiguities regarding Functions ................................................................. 47 Impact of Direct Elections ............................................................................ 47 Innovations in the PLGA 2019 ..................................................................... 47 Session 2: Debate on Accountability of Bureaucrats and Elected officials under the PLGA 2019 ...................................................................................................................... 48 Sanctity of Tenure and Accountability ......................................................... 48 Fiscal Accountability .................................................................................... 48 Corruption ..................................................................................................... 49 Session 3: Debate on Civil Society’s Role regarding Improvements in the PLGA 2019 and its Rules and Regulations ........................................................................