Consultative Session on Local Government Autonomy held in Balochistan

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Mar, 2026) Health and Rural Development (HARD), with the support of Awaz Centre for Development Services, organized a consultative session with multi-stakeholders and an advocacy panel to discuss constitutional, administrative, financial, and political autonomy of local governments in Balochistan.

Additional Secretary Local Government Balochistan, Farooq Tareen said local governments manage municipal services such as water supply, sanitation, waste management, street lighting, and local road maintenance through district councils, municipal committees, and union councils. He noted that while administrative autonomy allows local representatives to address community needs, provincial bureaucracy still holds significant control.

M. Ali Satakzai, Chief Officer Local Government, highlighted that local governments could prepare their own budgets and development plans. However, financial resources mainly come through the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) and provincial grants, making local bodies largely dependent on provincial funding.

Sakina Abdullah (PPP) emphasized that local governments strengthen grassroots democracy by allowing citizens to elect mayors, chairmen, and councillors.

She said political participation and accountability improve through regular elections, although provincial interference and delays in elections often weaken political autonomy.

Manzoor Ahmed (ARY) said the 18th Constitutional Amendment placed greater responsibility on provinces to establish effective local government systems and promote decentralization of power to elected local bodies.

Abdul Bari explained that local governments also regulate municipal matters such as building control, urban planning, and rural development, while union councils serve as the closest administrative units to the public.

Saleem Shahid, Senior Journalist, raised concerns about misuse of authority, including mismanagement of development funds, nepotism in appointments, and non-transparent awarding of contracts.

He stressed that weak monitoring and lack of transparency allow corruption to continue in some local government institutions.

Advocate A. Hayee (NCRC) discussed the Safa Quetta Project, aimed at improving waste management in Quetta. He noted that although door-to-door garbage collection has started in some sectors, the project still does not cover many areas of the city.

Participants stressed the need for stronger autonomy, transparency, and accountability to ensure effective local governance and improved service delivery in Balochistan.