Islamabad,(Parliament Times):The United Global Organization of Development (UGOOD), in collaboration with AwazCDS-Center for Development Services and Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA), organized a capacity building session on “Strengthening Local Government in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)” at Workpad, Islamabad.
The session was organized in response to a critical gap identified among political party workers, many of whom lacked clarity on local governance systems and had limited awareness of their own party manifestos related to local government. To address this, the session focused on building practical understanding and strengthening participants’ ability to engage meaningfully on the issue.
Participants, including political party representatives and workers, engaged in discussions on the structure, evolution, and significance of local governments in Pakistan. The session also covered constitutional provisions, institutional frameworks, and advocacy approaches, enabling participants to better understand their role in promoting accountable and effective local governance.
A key focus of the session was Article 140 A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which mandates the devolution of political, administrative, and financial powers to elected local governments. Speakers highlighted that despite this constitutional requirement, its effective implementation remains a challenge, particularly in Islamabad.
Syed Ishtiaq Gilani, CEO UGOOD, stated, “Strengthening local governments is essential for deepening democracy and ensuring that governance remains responsive to the needs of citizens. Initiatives like this aim to equip political actors with the knowledge and tools needed to actively support the implementation of constitutional provisions and promote participatory governance.”
Mr. Zia Ur Rehman, Chief Executive AwazCDS, highlighted critical constitutional concerns, stating, “Under Article 7 of the Constitution, the absence of a fully functional third tier of government undermines the spirit of democratic governance. Strengthening local governments is essential to ensure inclusive decision making and improved service delivery.”
The session also featured a detailed briefing by Mr. Anwar Hussain, Expert on Local Governance, on the current local government act, providing participants with a clearer understanding of the legal and operational framework governing local bodies.
Through interactive discussions and group reflections, participants identified gaps in awareness, policy alignment, and implementation. The session concluded with a strong collective demand from political party workers for timely local government elections, the completion of their full tenure, and a reduction in the gap between successive election cycles.
Representatives from UGOOD, AwazCDS, and PDA reaffirmed their commitment to continuing such initiatives to strengthen civic awareness, enhance political engagement, and promote a more accountable and participatory governance system in Pakistan.