ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that local bodies destroyed across Pakistan, with no functioning local governments in Punjab. He raised the issue during a National Assembly session on the recent floods.
Asif stressed that administrative powers in Pakistan are mostly held by provincial governments. This leaves rural and remote areas without proper representation and slows down local development. He urged the government to genuinely devolve power to grassroots institutions to help villagers and remote communities.
“Many take credit for changes in local government laws, but real empowerment matters. We must strengthen local bodies, not use them for political gain,” Asif said. He highlighted that local governments are often treated as political tools instead of service delivery mechanisms.
The defence minister also noted Pakistan’s struggle to hold regular local elections. In many regions, including Punjab, there is no clear legal framework for local governance. “Local bodies are destroyed in the country, and in Punjab, they don’t even exist,” he said.
Speaking about the floods, Asif rejected the idea that they are purely natural disasters. He said poor planning, negligence, and illegal construction on riverbeds have made the impact worse. “Encroachments on waterways and unregulated housing schemes have aggravated the devastation. Every year, billions are lost, but no corrective action is taken,” he added.
Asif also recommended building small dams nationwide to reduce flood damage and address water scarcity. He emphasized that waiting for large-scale projects is not practical. “Small dams can protect communities and reduce yearly flood losses. This is a national issue that needs urgent attention,” he said.
The minister called on all political stakeholders to set aside differences and focus on empowering local governments. He stressed that stronger local bodies would ensure better disaster management, infrastructure planning, and public service delivery across Pakistan.
