1. Democracy
You have already read that democracy is a form of government
in which people are the source of power. People elect their representatives who
form the government and rule them for their Welfare. Thus democracy is a form
the government of the people, by the people and for the people According to
this no one person or class is allowed to rule.
2. Local
Self-Government
Cities, town and villages have elected councilors to work
for their areas. They look after
sanitation, education of children, establishment of dispensaries, construction
of roads and electrification of roads and lanes.
Local bodies have been working since long, but according to
the local requirements, their scope of authority and area of work have widened.
Now these organizations under the elected councillors and mayors are serving
the citizens in a batter way. The responsibilities of these councillors and
mayors and serving the citizens in a better way.
The responsibilities of these councillors and organizations
differ according to the difference in the size of the area and population they
deal with.
3. Different Names
These organizations have different names in the cities, towns
and villages. Their names are
(i) The Municipal Corporation
(ii) The Municipal Committee
(iii) The Town Committee
(iv) The District Councils
Municipal Corporation
In very big town the organizations are called Municipal Corporations.
One such corporation is at work in Karachi. This corporation is known as
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. Late Sued Fuzail Ahmed Naqvi, B.A (Allahabad
University) was the Founder. Chairman of Baldia Landhi- Korangi, It was he who
solved plenty of local problems and tried his level best for the progress and
uplift of this locality which consisted of milions of people who migrated from
Bharat to Pakistan leaving behind all their material belongings. In addition to
this, he served as an able section officer of Heath Department (Sindh
Government). His services and deeds are still remembered today.
Responsibilities of Municipal Corporation
(i) Construction, repair and cleanliness of the roads.
(ii) Beautification of the city by plantation of trees,
construction of gardens, zoos, amusement parks, art-galleries and picnic spots
for the recreation of the people.
(iii) Opening of Schools for Primary Education.
(iv) Looking after the health and hygiene of the citizens by
opening dispensaries, to provide preventive injections against diseases and to
control the spread of epidemics.
(v) To arrange for the drainage of dirty water by digging
channels, etc.
(vi) To keep fire brigad so as to control the spread of fire
whenever needed.
(vii) To control the unlawful use of loudspeakers.
(viii) To regulate slaughter of animals by restricting the
same to the slaughter houses only.
(ix) To keep record of births and deaths.
The main source of
income of the Municipal Corporation is the Octroi tax. Some share of the
property tax is also its source of income. The owner of every house pays some
tax for sanitation, water supply and fire fighting services. The corporation
also charges fees to cart-drivers, street hawkers and pedlars. The elected
councillors are the members of the corporation.
Municipal Committee
In small cities towns there are municipalities instead of
corporation.
Responsibilities
(i) Arranging for the water supply and electrification of
the town.
(ii) Construction and maintenance of roads, lanes and
footpaths.
(iii) Opening of schools for the spread of primary
education.
(iv) Setting up libraries for the use of common man.
(v) Plantation of trees and construction of gardens.
(vi) Opening of dispensaries and Maternity Homes.
(vii) Establishing of veterinary dispensaries for the sick
animals.
(viii) Helping the affected people in case of fire, floods
and storms.
(ix) Looking after the sanitation of the town.
(x) Keeping vigilance over the sale of eatables in their
areas and checking that nothing is sold in the market which is harmful for the
health of citizens. Such municipalities are functioning in Nawab shah, Sukkar,
Larkana and in other big towns in the province of Sindh.
Town Committee
In the town there are Town Committees.
Functions (Duties)
(i) To look after the sanitation, road-lighting and water
supply of the town.
(ii) To construct roads and maintain streets and lanes.
(iii) To establish dispensaries, maternity homes and inns for the use of the
common man and local people of town.
(iv) To set up play grounds, gardens and parks for pubic
recreation.
(v) To maintain libraries for use of general public of the
town.
District Councils
Their main aim and objective is the welfare of the people
living in the villages.
Funtions (Duties)
(i) To lay Kutcha or Pucca roads.
(ii) To construct bridges in the district.
(iii) To arrange for the outlet of rain-water and build organization
of sports.
(iv) To adopt preventive and curative measures to control
the spread of edidemic diseases.
Voluntary Functions
(i) To establish schools in the district.
(ii) To grant scholarships to poor students.
(iii) To launch adult education centre in the district.
(iv) To provide facilities to the farmers in the field of
agriculture and irrigation.
(v) To establish dispensaries to fight the menace of
Malaria.
(vi) To organize Cattle Shows in the district.
(vii) To organise agricultural exhibitions.
(viii) To arrange for Melas in the villages.
(ix) To make arrangements for tree plantation in the local
district.
The Cantonment Boards
Cantonment Boards are set up in the cantonments only. Fifty
per cent of the members of the Cantonment Boards are elected whereas the
remaining members are nominated. The chairman is the Station Commander.
Functions
(i) It roads and electrifies them.
(ii) It sets up parks and gardens.
(iii) It looks after the general health of the residents of
that cantonment.
(iv) It looks after the sanitation of that area.
(v) It establishes schools and colleges.
(vi) It runs dispensaries.
The sources of its income are the Octroi tax, the Sales tax
and the grants from the Federal Government simply to provide facilities to the
citizens in the cantonments.
Social Welfare Organizations
Although many social welfare activities are carried out by
government and local self-government organizations still some private
organizations in Pakistan are also performing important social welfare
activities. A few of them are mentioned here.
Fatmid Blood Transfusion Service
This organization is successfully operating in Karachi and
it provides following services to the general public.
1. Maintain a blood bank in which bloods of all groups are
collected from the voluntary blood donars.
2. Provides ambulances service to the seriously injured and
other kinds of patients.
3. Has arrangements to provide first aid in respect of cases
of accidents on emergency bases.
Edhi Welfare Organization (Trust & Service)
It is largest kind of welfare organization running Pakistan
and abroad financed by private funds donated by generous people of country. It
has centres/ booths in many places in Karachi and other cities. It runs many
institutions for the general public.
i) Female and children Dead body Disposal Centre.
ii) Children Abdomen Welfare Centre.
iii) Children welfare Orphan Hospital.
iv) Missing Children Family Welfare.
v) Nursing Training School
vi) Family Planning Centre.
vii) Children Immunization.
viii) Female Welfare Hostel.
ix) A large Ambulance Service network equipped with
helicopters.
x) 3 Edhi Emergency Hospitals at Sohrab Goth Edhi Village
and on Super Highway near Hyderabad Tool Plaza.
This organization also helps people of other countries
through its foreign centres established in many countries like Sri Lanka, Great
Britian, U.S.A. (New York), Somalia etc. In the recent past, it has supplied a
large quantity of rice to femine stricken people of Somalia (Africa). It also
arranges for the marriage of orphan and poor girls in the country. It is
collecting medicines, milk and cash donation to help the children of Iraq at
present (January 1994).
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