Govt believes in democratic in democratic values: Bilour
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has said that the objective of the conference is to look into the possibility for improvement in the local government system and align it with the wishes and needs of the masses so that it could serve the people of this country in a befitting manner.
He was speaking as a Chief Guest at a conference on Devolution process in Pakistan organized by District That Work (DTS) of USAID with the collaboration of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development at a local hotel here today.
The Federal Minister said that the present government believes in democratic values and will make all out efforts to protect and promote them as only in democracy lies the hope for a strong and prosperous Pakistan. Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that a strong democratic, progressive Islamic state of Pakistan is the vision of the government that provides peace, security, justice and prosperity to its people. In order to achieve this vision, He said that there is a need to ensure that governments at all levels work together to provide a system of governance that is responsive to people’s needs and works in a transparent and accountable manner.
The Minister said that the Government wants to see local governance and development according to people’s needs and expectations. Law & Order responsibilities, mechanisms for financial allocations, balance of powers and improving the delivery of basic services are some of the areas that may need revisiting.
Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour proposed that there should be investment and donors input in health, education, sanitation or any other basic area which is affecting the life of common man.
Provincial Ministers, Nazmeen, officials from Federal & Provincial Governments and representative of DTS also attended the conference.