LG election split resolved: Ibad

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that differences between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement over the local government system have been resolved and a draft law on the subject would soon be finalised.

Describing 2011 as the year for local government elections, the governor said that the delay in holding elections of the local government was caused by preparations for the 18th amendment in the constitution, followed by the flood situation. But, he added, both parties were now prepared for the local government elections.

He was speaking to a group of media persons at the Governor’s House on Wednesday after reviewing a plan for a housing project where flood-affected people would have clean drinking water facilities through solar energy.

In reply to a question, he said he had given his consent to the two bills — titled Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Shaheed Benazirabad Bill, 2009, and People’s University of Health and Medical Sciences (women) Shaheed Benazirabad Bill 2009 — which had been sent back to the assembly with his message.

Earlier, the governor told the participants of a meeting that the rehabilitation stage was certainly long and difficult and the government was striving to provide the flood-affected people every facility within its resources. He said priority was being given to the IDPs’ return and clean drinking water supply projects.

He said that floodwater was still standing in many areas, causing a delay in return of IDPs.