LAHORE (July 03 2007): Indian Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has said that they have come to Pakistan with the objective of strengthening the people to people contacts between India and Pakistan, which he believed would help in the Indo-Pak diplomatic efforts for peace and harmony in the region.

He expressed these views addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day Pakistan-India Symposium on Local Governance here on Monday, which was organised by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB).

Punjab Local Government Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja, NRB Chairman Daniyal Aziz, Local Government Ministers of Indian States, including Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Indian Punjab, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan and representatives of local government of both Indian and Pakistan were also present on the occasion.

Mani was of the view that a new dimension would be added to the people to people contact after the interaction between the grass root leadership (local government representatives) of the two countries.

He said that they have also come to Pakistan to learn and experience the local government of Pakistan that much talked about, but we are not here to teach or learn the system. "However, the symposium would provide an opportunity for the delegates of the two countries to exchange experience on local government systems and help them in refining their own system," he added.

Commenting on local government, he said that it empowers the people that translate in to liberation of individuals; it enables people at the grass roots to participate in their development.

Self-governance and a responsive management were only possible through responsible and representative management, he added. Mani highlighted the history of Panchayat Raj in India, which dates back to the days of early years of Independence, but it took roots in the days of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi. "At present under the panchayat system there were 250,000 units, 6,000 intermediate panchayats at tehsil level and 530 district panchayats," he added

Punjab Local Government Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja said that the local government system was introduced on August 14, 2001, in Pakistan, and all administrative and financial powers were devolved to the grass root level that ensured the participation of people in development.

NRB Chairman Daniyal Aziz also addressed the symposium and extensively highlighted the role and efforts of the NRB in the Pakistani local government system. He said that our system was operating successfully, and it was highly appreciated in the recent Commonwealth Conference in Vienna.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2007