Sindh’s lawmakers emphasize missing role of local councils
They suggest provincial governments to support local councils to develop ‘Pandemic Response Plan’
KARACHI -(May 16, 2020): The lawmakers of Sindh Assembly on Saturday said that the role of local government’s representatives at grassroots level is crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an online meeting on ‘institutional role in context of CoVID-19 Pandemic’ arranged by the HANDS, the legislators of Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and civil society activists exchanged their opinions over the prevailing situation across the province.
Discussing the water sanitation and hygiene condition in context to the pandemic, participants said that the role of all relevant departments was very pivotal to contain the spread of the Pendamic, reducing the overall burden over the health facilities.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Shamim Mumtaz of PPP, Nusrat Sahar Abbassi of PMLF, Ms Rabia Khatoon of MQM, Ms Sidra Imran of PTI, Ms Rabia Azfar of PTI, Ms Sadia Javed of PPP, Qasim Soomro of PPP, Ms Tanzila Qambrani of PPP and representatives from civil society, including HANDS CEO Dr Shakikh Tanveer Ahmed, Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Zaor, Mr. Nadeem Wagan, Mr. Maqbool Ahmed Rahu and Ms Sadaf Gul.
They specifically discussed the role of local government department and the Local Government Act-2013, which has clearly defined the compulsory function of local councils that Corporations, Municipal Committees or Town Committees shall adopt such measures to prevent infectious diseases and for restraining infections within the the Local Area as per the rules and bylaws provided therein.
The parliamentarians suggested that all provincial governments should support to local councils to develop their Pandemic Response Plans. Local elected representatives and available resources of local councils could be Mobilized to ensure the compliance of SOPs developed by the Provincial Governments for the Preventive Measures against the CoVID-19.
The lawmakers from treasury and opposition asked the national international CSOs and donors to invest in sustainable interventions related to the CoVID-19 preventive measures, particularly at the grassroots level.
