101 Town Committees: Sindh government still indecisive on restoration of development funds

Sindh government could not take decision regarding the restoration of development funds of 101 Town Committees (TCs) despite holding many meetings in this regard, Business Recorder learnt here on Saturday. After the promulgation of ordinance regarding revival of local government system 1979, Sindh government had seized all funds excluding salaries of City District Government of Karachi (CDGK), District Governments (DGs) and Taulka Municipal Administrations (TMAs).
Besides, CDGK had been abolished and DGs were changed in District Councils (DCs) and TMAS had bee made TCs. Before changing the local government system, Sindh government had increased Rs 2964.355 million in annual budgets of 18 Towns of Karachi and 101 TMAs of province.
Provincial government had allocated Rs 26,321.955 million in FY2011-12, while the last fiscal year's revised budget was Rs 23,357.600 million. According to the budget figures of a few TMAs, Badin Taulka's revised budget of 2010-11 was Rs 196.292 million, Matli's budget was Rs 172.860 million, Shaheed Fazal Rahu's budget was Rs 160.102 million, Talhar's budget was Rs 127.758 million and Tando Bago's budget was Rs 175.641 million.
Besides, Rs 138.516 million had been allocated to Bakrani taulka, Rs 148.364 million to Dokri, Rs 289.086 million to Larkana, Rs 172.457 million to Ratodero, Rs 128.486 million to Daulatpur, Rs 204.312 million to Daur, Rs 240.224 million to Nawabshah and Rs 183.345 million had been allocated for Sakrand's TMA. Same like that, every TMA had the funds in millions for development sector according to the provision of abolished Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001.
Members of National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) belonging to many districts have also created pressure on Local Government department that funds would be restored as per the system of SLGO 2011, sources told. Many MNAs and MPAs have conducted individual and group meetings with Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durani and urged him for restoration of said funds, sources added. In this connection, officials of Local government department have also discussed this issue with the experts of Law department.
Legal experts told Business Recorder that if Sindh government would decide in favour of restoration of funds, the Local government system 1979 would be amended and tabled in the Sindh assembly. Sources concluded that authorities are of the view that MNAs and MPAs had used development funds for their personal interests, so the decision in favour of restoration of said funds is seemed impossible.