Local government is the 3rd layer of government at the grassroots level. Its prime objective is to meet the needs of people at the local level. It guarantees the participation of citizens under their supervision to order all aspects of their daily routine life. It serves as a school life for democracy and the upbringing of political leadership in mainstream politics. Gilgit-Baltistan got independence on 1st November 1947. In 1963 first local government system was introduced in G.B during the Ayyub era. Before 1963, the Lumber Dari system prevails in this area. The second local government system was introduced in 1979 during Gen . Zia-al-Haq Era which was Punjab local government ordinance 1979. In 2014, Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly passed a local government act in the era of PPP government. Currently, the local government act 2014 is enforced in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The local Government System in Gilgit- Baltistan is divided into two tiers Urban and Rural Areas. The main objective is to facilitate and develop backward and underdeveloped areas. Urban areas are further categorized into City Metropolitan Corporation, Municipal Committee, and Town Committee while Rural Councils are divided into District Council, Tehsil Council, and Union Council. There are 2 City Metropolitan Corporation and 9 Municipal Committees and 10 Districts Councils.
33% of seats are reserved for women. The budget of Local Government is issued by the principal allocating officer in three main tiers which are as under 1. 20% for District Council 2. 5-10% for Municipal Committee 3. 70% Union Councils.
Local Government System in Gilgit-Baltistan
Local government is 3rd tier of government at the grassroots level. Its prime objective is to meet the needs of people at the local level. It ensures the participation of citizens under their supervision to order all aspects of their daily routine life. It serves as a school life for democracy and the upbringing of political leadership in mainstream politics. Gilgit-Baltistan got independence on 1st November 1947. In 1963 first local government system was introduced in Gilgit-Baltistan during the Ayub era. Before 1963, the Lumber Dari system prevails in this area. The second local government system was introduced in 1979 during Gen . Zia-al-Haq Era which was Punjab local government ordinance 1979. In 2014, Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly passed a local government act in the era of PPP government. Currently, the local government act 2014 is enforced in Gilgit-Baltistan. (UNDP Pakistan, 2014).
The local government is divided into Rural Areas and Urban Areas. Rural Areas: Consists of Union Council for every village, Tehsil Councils for more than one village, and District Councils for more than one Tehsil. Urban Areas: Consists of Town Committees having population more than 10,000, Municipal Committees having population more than 30,000, Municipal Corporation having population more than 50,000, City Metropolitan Corporation having population more than 1, 00,000.Composition of Local Councils
Rural Areas
Union Council: Each Union Council consists of directly elected members and indirectly elected
members on special seats. There were 103 Union Council members. The elected members select
Chairman and Vice-Chairman from directly elected members.
Tehsil Council: It is consist of all the elected chairman of the Union Council as members
and members elected on reserved seats. The members select Chairman among one of them.
District Council: There are 10 District Councils in Gilgit-Baltistan. It consists of directly elected
members and members indirectly. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected by the members
of district Councils among the directly elected members.
Urban Areas
There were 9 Municipal corporations and Two City Metropolitan Corporations Skardu and
Gilgit. The composition of Urban Councils is the same as that of Rural Councils composition. In
the case of City Metropolitan, there will be Mayor and Deputy Mayor instead of Chairman and Vice
Chairman.
Functions of Rural Councils
Union Councils: Union Council performs multi-functions. Some of them are approval of budget
and collection of revenue assigned by the Tehsil Council and also nominate members of Jirga to
resolve the disputes among the residents of the local area. Supervise local development programs i:
e sanitation, rehabilitation, maintenance of roads and street lights. Also keep records of birth,
death, marriages, and divorce in relevant areas.
Tehsil Council: Tehsil Council approves the by-laws and budget of the tehsil council. Supervise the
performance of all offices working under the Tehsil Council. Review performance presented by
the chairman. Assist Union Councils in provision and maintenance of public works, streets, graveyards, clean water, etc. Undertake their development program assigned by District Council. District Council: It approves bye-laws and taxes approve the budget of the District Council. Elect
standing Committee on development planning and social audit amongst the member of District
Council. It provides relief natural calamities and disasters. Construction of culverts, bridges, and
public buildings. Prevent and abolish encroachments on public ways, streets, and properties.
Functions of Urban Councils
City Metropolitan Corporation, Municipal Corporation, Municipal Committee, and Town
Committee:
Urban Council performed the following functions:
Execution and management of development plans. Control over land use, land subdivision, and
land development. Improve and maintain streets, roads, clean water, public garden, and graveyard.
Enforcement of all municipal laws rules and bye-laws provide, operate, manage and improve the
municipal infrastructure and services. Including water supply, sewerage, storm, water drainage,
traffic planning, and firefighting. Approve taxes, fees, rates, rents, etc. Establishment of libraries,
cattle bonds. Prevention and removal of encroachments. Approval of budget revises the budget and
long-term development programs. Regulation of markets and services issuing licenses and
permits. Keep records of birth, marriage, divorces.
Financing and Budgeting
Financing
Local Government shall establish local funds and all revenues collected by Local Government
through the following sources:
Taxes, fees, tolls, and charges imposed by the Local Government.
Grants or monies received by local Government from Central or Provincial Government.
Profit from investment, gifts, grants, and contributions to local government by individuals
or institutions.
Fine and penalties imposed by the Local Government.Budgets
The estimated annual budget of the Local Government shall be, Grant from the Government and
the amount available in the local fund. Allocated local fund of a Local Council from the Provincial
share.
Accept the recommendation of Chairman or Mayor Demand for a grant shall not be made.
Grants from the Government or other Local Governments shall be separately mentioned in the
budget.
The budget shall be allocated among the Local Councils as under:
1. 20% to District Councils
2. 5-10% to Municipal Councils
3. 70% to Union Councils. (Zafar, 2018)
Composition of Finance Commission
Finance Minister shall be the Chairman and Minister for Local Government shall be the co-
chairperson of the Finance Commission. 2 members of G.B.L.A shall be a member of Finance
Commission. Secretary of Finance Department, Secretary of Planning and Development
Department and Secretary of Finance Department, Secretary of Planning and Development
Department and Secretary of Local Government and Rural Development Department shall be
nominated professionals shall be members from Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government. (Zafar, 2018)
Functions of Finance Commission
The finance commission makes recommendations to Government on resources distribution and
matters relating to Local Government Finance. It also consults on principles of population,
underdeveloped, performance, and need of a Local Council. The Government Commission decides by majority voting of members. The commission also present an annual report to the
Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on its functioning. The Government may accept or reject
in writing the recommendations of the Government Finance Commission on issuing grants to the
Local Government.Local Councils Elections and Qualification of Candidates
Elections
The elections to the Local Government ent held on a party basis and through a secret ballot based on
adult franchise. A person shall be entitled to vote if he is a citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan and more
than eighteen years of age or equivalent. The elections of the Local Government shall be conducted
by the Election Commission. The term of office for the Local Council is five years. The first meeting
of the Local Council shall be held within 30 days. An administrator is appointed to perform the
functions of the Local Council when the term of office of the Local Council expires.
The last elections for the Local Government in Gilgit-Baltistan were held in 2004. 33% reserved
seats were allocated for Women.
Qualification and Disqualification
A person shall be elected as a member of Local Council or can hold an elected office of Local
Council if he is a citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan. His age is 25 years or more. He should be enrolled as
a voter. A person shall be disqualified if he is not a citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan. A court has
declared him to be of unsound mind. He shall be disqualified if he is in services of Federal
Government or Provincial Government. He has been dismissed from a public office due to
misconduct unless three years completed since his renewal. No person can be a member of two
Local Councils at the same time.
Conclusion
Finally, we can say that the Local Government System plays a vital role in society by providing
facilities and services to citizens at the grass-root level. In this way, it has enhanced the development
of rural areas and also improved rural life by introducing different schemes. Local
Government System should prevail in every form of Government either Democracy or
Dictatorship but unfortunately in Pakistan Democratic Governments not gives much importance
to the Local Government as compared to the Dictatorship. The Local Government System prevails all over Pakistan but power is not given to them, real power is still exercised by the Legislative members.