Event Summary: Empowering Local Governments for Enhanced Service Delivery and Public Participation: Sindh Local Government District Performance Assessment 2024
Date: January 20, 2025
Venue: Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi

On January 20, 2025, Transparency International Pakistan organized a dissemination event at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, titled “Empowering Local Governments for Enhanced Service Delivery and Public Participation: Sindh Local Government District Performance Assessment 2024”. The event showcased findings from the Sindh Local Government District Performance Assessment 2024 and facilitated dialogue on strengthening local governments in the province for enhanced service delivery. The dissemination event was attended 70 participants from a diverse group of stakeholders, including leaders of different political parties, members of National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, elected local government representatives, regional directors of local government, Director Operations, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Managing Director Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), representatives of differen departments with role in local government functions, representatives of civil society organizations, academia, journalists, transgender attended the event. to discuss actionable strategies for improving local governance and public participation.  

The dissemination event commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran.

Justice (R) Muhammad Ather Saeed, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Board of Trustee TI Pakistan delivered the opening remarks. He highlighted the critical role of local governments as the foundation of democracy and underscored their responsibility in addressing pressing issues such as water scarcity, waste management, infrastructure development, and climate resilience as defined in Local Government Act (Amendment) 2023. Drawing attention to Article 140-A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, he emphasized the need for devolving political, administrative, and financial powers to local governments, which remains a hindrance in the ability of local government to serve communities effectively. He argued that local governments can play an effective role in generating and utilizing revenue through taxes including agricultural tax. He emphasized that there is a need to empower UC councilors, chairmen, mayors with greater administrative control over police and resources which can contribute to strengthening law and order at the grassroot level.

Moving forward, Mr. Kashif Ali, Executive Director TI Pakistan, presented key findings from the Sindh Local Government District Performance Assessment 2024 report. He highlighted that Sindh Local Government District Performance Assessment 2024 reveals that there are significant gaps in the local government service delivery with many citizens pointing out that public meetings at UC/Tehsil/District level are not organized by LG representatives. He further highlighted that the assessment also reveals gaps in terms of quality of basic services (water supply, sanitation, sewage/drainage, roads maintenance, waste management, infrastructural development and registration documents), provided by the LG as per its mandate. At the same time, there is a need to enhance awareness among the citizens about the functions, roles and responsibilities of local government so citizens are aware about the scope of local government work. He highlighted that citizen inclusion in local government decision making, disclosure of local government budgets, performance reports and audits as well as having effective complaint redress mechanism in all UCs and district local government offices is needed to ensure effective service delivery at grassroot level. He argued that as a third tier of governance, local governments must include citizens voices in decision-making, to ensure that citizens’ perspectives are reflected in local government prioritizations, allocation and utilization of budgets. He also presented key recommendations from the report which call for inclusive and accountable local government in the province.

Next, Mr. Aijaz Ali Khuwaja, National Policy Consultant, United Nations Pakistan delivered comprehensive presentation on the “Importance of Citizen Engagement in Local Governance”. He emphasized that meaningful citizen participation strengthens democratic decision-making, fosters ownership, accountability, and trust within communities. Mr. Khuwaja explained that when citizens are actively involved, local governments can align their policies and services more closely with the needs and priorities of communities. He also highlighted that citizen engagement not only supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making processes. Furthermore, he discussed key approaches to enhancing citizen engagement, such as conducting awareness campaigns, participatory budgeting, and creating citizen advisory committees to improve local governance, particularly by ensuring inclusive representation of women, youth, marginalized groups, persons with disabilities and transgenders.

Mr. Khuwaja also addressed the current state of citizen engagement in Sindh, noting the challenges faced by local councils in achieving meaningful public participation. He pointed out the low attendance at public meetings, lack of trust, and insufficient involvement of civil society organizations in local governance. While urban areas have made strides in utilizing digital platforms for citizen feedback, rural areas remain excluded due to the digital divide. He stressed the need for a more robust policy framework aligned with the SDGs, better coordination at the district level, and stronger monitoring mechanisms.

The next speaker was Mr. Shahid Jatoi, Commissioner, Sindh Information Commission who spoke on the “Role of the Right to Information (RTI) in fostering transparency and accountability within local governance structures in Sindh”. He explained that RTI empowers citizens by providing them with the right to access information about government policies, decisions, and resource allocations, which is essential for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring effective service delivery. Mr. Jatoi highlighted that RTI is enshrined as a fundamental right under Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, introduced by the 18^th  Constitutional Amendment and further solidified through the Sindh Right to Information Act, 2016. The Act mandates Public Information Officers (PIOs) to respond to information requests within a specified time frame. By ensuring timely access to information, RTI promotes a culture of openness, strengthens democratic processes, and builds trust between the government and citizens. Despite its importance, Mr. Jatoi pointed out challenges such as limited awareness among citizens and political representatives, with some even unaware of RTI’s provisions. He shared that over the past year, the Sindh Information Commission which is the custodian of the RTI Act in the province received approximately 1,200 complaints, of which 1,000 were successfully resolved. He called for further awareness campaigns, capacity-building for local government representatives to ensure that RTI remains an effective tool for enhancing governance and empowering citizens in Sindh.

Following the tea break, a Q&A session was opened for participants to engage with the speakers.

Afterwards, the panel discussion, titled “Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Local Governance in Sindh: Enhancing Citizen-Centered Service Delivery, Accountability, and Responsiveness,” was held. The discussion brought together a diverse group of political representatives and academia experts to explore strategies for improving local governance in Sindh and was moderated by Mr. Kashif Ali, Executive Director TI Pakistan. The panelists included:

1. Farooq Sattar, Member of the National Assembly and Deputy Convenor of MQM-Pakistan
2. Qasim Soomro, Member of the Provincial Assembly Sindh (Pakistan Peoples Party) and Parliamentary Secretary
3. Muhammad Awais, Member of the Provincial Assembly and representative of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)
4. Advocate Saifuddin, Naib Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, Karachi and Opposition Leader, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)
5. Ghazal Khawaja Hummayun, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Karachi.

Dr. Farooq Sattar, highlighted that true democratic governance cannot be achieved without meaningful citizen engagement at all levels. He pointed out that empowering local governments through the effective implementation of Article 140A of the Constitution, mandates political, administrative, and financial autonomy for local bodies. He proposed that districts must receive a direct share in the national budget, enabling better service delivery and restoring public trust in governance. Highlighting challenges such as bureaucratic control, weak devolution, and financial dependence on provincial governments, he called for clear legal support for strengthening local bodies in the province. Additionally, he stressed the importance of accountability mechanisms, regular audits, and performance evaluations to ensure local governments remain responsive to public needs.

Advocate Saifuddin, Naib Amir Jamaat-e-Islami, Karachi, and Opposition Leader, KMC, highlighted critical governance issues in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. He pointed out that overlapping responsibilities among various departments often marginalize elected local government representatives, limiting their ability to effectively serve citizens. Mr. Saifuddin stressed the need for decentralizing powers and resources, ensuring a clear mandate for local governments, in line with Article 140-A of the Constitution. He emphasized the importance of transparency in the utilization of resources for better service delivery. One major issue he highlighted was the mismanagement of solid waste in Karachi, proposing the involvement of UC-level authorities to tackle this problem. Additionally, he raised concerns about the dysfunctional state of Karachi’s Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), which fails to provide clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. He pointed to poor fund allocation and departmental mismanagement as key barriers to service delivery, despite the approval of a significant budget of billions of rupees. Mr. Saifuddin called for comprehensive effective resource utilization to restore public trust and improve citizen-centered service delivery.

Dr. Ghazal Khawaja Humayun, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Karachi highlighted significant challenges local governance institutions face due to their lack of authority and resources. She called for institutional empowerment and comprehensive policy reforms to improve service delivery effectiveness. Dr. Ghazal emphasized the importance of gender inclusion and highlighted the need for enhancing education and skill-based competencies, particularly for women, to foster their participation in local governments planning and decision making. She further stressed the need to restructure service delivery systems to ensure they are more responsive and citizen-centered. Additionally, Dr. Ghazal highlighted the importance of political accountability and citizen engagement in strengthening governance. She also underscored the critical role of student participation in raising awareness and driving sustainable improvements in governance.

Mr. Muhammad Awais, Member of the Provincial Assembly from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), emphasized an urgent need for empowering local governments in the province. He argued that local governments must achieve financial independence and not rely solely on provincial funds, which are inadequate for addressing service delivery issues. He pointed out that a large portion of resources is consumed by administrative costs, leaving little for actual service delivery. He stressed the need for governance reforms to empower local governments with greater authority and autonomy, highlighting that the current local government system lacks transparency and responsiveness, particularly in service delivery.

Mr. Qasim Soomro, Member of Provincial Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary, representing the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stressed the importance of a citizen-centered approach in local governance reforms. He pointed out significant challenges within the current system that hinder service delivery and accountability, emphasizing the need effective prioritization of billion rupees allocated for development, with proper audits to ensure transparency. Mr. Soomro highlighted gaps in development schemes with major portion of the funds being used for salaries. Mr. Soomro emphasized that decentralization is crucial for local governments to effectively fulfill their mandate and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and argued that the provincial government of Sindh remains committed to empowering local governments in the province to meeting our SDG targets.

The discussion also highlighted reflections from Local Government Representatives and & Civil Society Representatives, from survey districts Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, and Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur who discussed on the Challenges and Opportunities for Robust, Financially Empowered and Inclusive Local Governments in Sindh. Following the panel discussion, they provided insights into the challenges faced at the grassroots level, including service delivery, budget constraints, administrative hurdles and emphasizing the role of collective efforts in strengthening governance.

Following the reflection, presentation and panel discussion, the event transitioned into an open discussion and Q&A session, providing participants with an opportunity to engage with the speakers and share their perspectives on the topics discussed. Stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, civil society, academia, and government departments, actively participated by raising questions and contributing insights and recommendations. The discussion focused on practical solutions for improving local governance in Sindh, addressing challenges such as limited citizen engagement, gaps in service delivery, and strengthening transparency mechanisms. The session fostered an interactive and collaborative environment, encouraging participants to explore actionable strategies for empowering local government institutions.

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks from Justice (R) Zia Perwez, Chairman of TI Pakistan, acknowledging the contributions of the speakers and participants. He emphasized that local governance is the cornerstone of effective democratic systems, as it directly impacts the lives of citizens by providing essential services and responding to their needs. Strong local governments can ensure that communities are empowered, resources are managed efficiently, and accountability is maintained. By promoting citizen participation and transparency, local governance can create more inclusive and responsive model of governance in the province.