The Structure, Functions and Financial Resources of Local Government in Pakistan

Date01 July 1967
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1967.tb00299.x
Published date01 July 1967
AuthorMalik M. Siddiq
The
Structure, Functions and
Financial Resources of Local
Government in Pakistan
by
MAL
I K
M.
SID
D I Q
Mr.
Siddiq
is
Cantonment
Executive Officer, Dacca, Pakistan.
Introduction
THE genesis of local government in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent is
to be found in the days of British rule, when the district officer, variously
known as the collector, deputy commissioner and district magistrate, to
further his efforts towards local social advancement enlisted the support
of
local people of influence in carrying out his tasks.
From these early beginnings there were gradually evolved definite institu-
tions of local government and a policy with the avowed aims
of
training
the people of India in the art
of
self-government at the lowest level and
of
lightening the burden of governmental agencies by ensuring popular partici-
pation. On the whole these laudable aims were not realised.
The
people
at the local level were not interested and the institutions of local government
which were created increased rather than eased the burdens of district
administration.
The
development of local government did not proceed uniformly through-
out the country. Village councils were established in what is now East
Pakistan as early as the 1880s but it was not until well into the zoth century
that similar bodies were established in the Punjab.
After independence in 1947, attempts were made to democratise the
system of local government. In 1948 adult franchise was introduce for the
first time in the election
of
local bodies and elected chairman replaced
district officers on the district boards.
The
laws establishing and governing local authorities varied from area
to area until the Basic Democracies Order of I959 and the Municipal Admin-
istration Ordinance
of
1960 were enacted to consolidate and amend laws
relating to local government throughout Pakistan.
The
Structure
of
Local Authorities
The
Federal Republic of Pakistan consists of the provinces of East and
West Pakistan each under the administrative head
of
a governor appointed
by the President.
East Pakistan is divided into four divisions containing a total of seventeen
districts while West Pakistan has twelve divisions and fifty three districts.
A division is under the administrative charge of a commissioner while a
district is under a deputy commissioner.
In East Pakistan the districts are further divided into sub-divisions under
sub-divisional officers.
The
sub-divisions in East Pakistan and the districts
in West Pakistan are further divided into areas known as thana and tehsil
179

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