Lahore: A Stakeholders Dialogue on the Punjab Local Government System was organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Pakistan at a local hotel in Lahore. The event brought together experts, political leaders, civil society representatives, and local government stakeholders to discuss and analyze the current local government system and propose improvements.
The dialogue began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by opening remarks from Mr. Ashraf Rasool, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Local Government. He emphasized the importance of strengthening local governments to ensure the effective delivery of public services and inclusive governance.
Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director of CPDI, provided a detailed analysis of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2021. He highlighted the critical areas for improvement in the system and shared recommendations to make local governments more transparent and accountable to the people.
During the dialogue, prominent speakers including Mr. Zahid Islam (Executive Director of Sangat Development Foundation), Ms. Abiha Zafar (Chairperson, Department of Governance & Global Studies, ITU), and Syed Ali Raza (Rule of Law Expert), MPA Ali Javed discussed the challenges faced by the local government system in Punjab. The discussion also focused on the role of political parties and stakeholders in making local governments more people-centric and inclusive.
The event concluded with comments and questions from political leaders, civil society organizations, and media representatives, followed by a way forward presented by Mr. Usman Tahir Usman, Additional Secretary of Local Government and Community Development, Punjab. Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, delivered closing remarks, reaffirming CPDI’s commitment to supporting democratic processes in Pakistan.
The event was a successful platform for key stakeholders to share insights and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of local governance in Punjab.
