For release: Immediate 19 July 2006
Pakistan is holding a major event for elected mayors (nazims) and central and state government since the local election in 2005. Participants will discuss the implementation of local government, local government reforms, and the interaction between spheres of government.
The symposium on Strengthening Decentralisation in Pakistan and the Commonwealth is jointly organised by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), the Commonwealth Secretariat Government and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) and the National Reconstruction Bureau of Pakistan (NRB). It will be held in Islamabad from 24-27 July 2006.
Speakers will include Daniyal Aziz, Chairman of the NRB, and nazims from a number of districts. Participants will also hear about international experience of decentralisation from other Commonwealth countries including: Hon Mayor Robert Montague, Chair of CLGF; Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, President of UCLGA; Cllr Basil Morrison, President of Local Government New Zealand; and Phil Woolas MP, Minister for Local Government and Community Cohesion, UK.
The symposium will also consider CLGF’s Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles for good practice on local democracy and good governance and how that can help guide the devolution process including principles of accountability, transparency, community participation and intergovernmental relations.
CLGF Chair Hon Robert Montague said:
“This is a great opportunity for newly elected councillors and people from state and national government in Pakistan. The symposium will help to support them in taking forward the decentralisation programme and local government reforms.
“Myself and colleagues from across the Commonwealth are very pleased to be involved in this important event, to learn about progress in Pakistan and share some of our own experiences of decentralisation.”
Richard Gold, Director of GIDD said that:
“Delivering quality services to citizens is a matter of prime importance for Commonwealth member governments and requires striking a balance between national and local priorities. I hope that the symposium will address key issues that are central to managing change at local level in the context of recent devolution in Pakistan.”
For further information contact:
Carl Wright.
Secretary-General, CLGF
c/o Hotel Marriott
Tel: +92 51 111223344
Sue Rhodes
Communications consultant, CLGF
Tel: +44 20 7934 9696; +44 7669 332544
Note to editors:
- The Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), has headquarters in London and project offices in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. It is recognised by the 53 Commonwealth Heads of Government as the Commonwealth organisation for promoting local democracy and good governance.
- Pakistan has a three-level system of district (zila), tehsil and union councils. Elections to local government bodies were held in August and September 2005, the second local elections following the establishment of local councils in 2001. A Commonwealth Expert Team, jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and CLGF, observed the elections and identified areas where improvements to the electoral process and political environment in Pakistan could be made.
- The NRB is responsible for implementing Pakistan’s decentralisation reforms.
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