20000224

Local bodies framework by March-end: Omer

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower, Overseas Pakistanis, Local Government, Environment and Rural Development, Umar Asghar Khan, on Wednesday said that the government was planning to give power of tax imposition to local bodies and Zila Council for income generation.

Replying to a number of questions from newsmen at the end of a National Employers Convention held here, he said that there was no proposal under consideration to reimpose Octroi tax in its original or changed shape.

He said the government was trying to curtail centre's power and transfer it to provinces and local bodies. The government was also pursuing a policy of non-interference in provincial affairs.

He said that the government would announce local bodies framework by end of March this year.

He said that the government was working on a plan to restore democracy in three stages: first to hold local bodies elections, then provincial and lastly at federal level.

He denied ban has been imposed on Railway unions. He said that the government was also going to take up the Wapda union issue with Wapda authorities.

He favoured construction of small dams to overcome water and power shortage.

The minister said that the government was reducing the numbers of ministries at federal level and down sizing its department to curtail unnecessary expenditures. The government was also adopting a policy to give golden hand shake or some packages to those whose services were no more required by the government, he added.

Earlier, speaking at the National Employers Convention, the minister said that the government was working to minimise the number of labour laws and added that the labour policy would no more remain in shelves.

He said that the government of today was thinking of cleansing up political system in the country.

He said in wake of globalisation, Pakistan was in a very exciting and competitive environment.

This needed that Pakistan should gear-up its activities to face challenges of child rights, women rights and all kind of human rights.

He said that the current economic situation was the legacy of previous government. He said the presennt government was adopting a policy of encouraging small and medium enterprises than big industries to overcome the economic crisis.