Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 2015

[AS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY]

A BILL to rationalize and reorganize the local government system in the Federal Capital. WHEREAS it is expedient to establish an elected local government system to devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments; to promote good governance, effective delivery of services and transparent decision making through institutionalized participation of the people at local level; and, to deal with ancillary matters; It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—
(1) This Act may be called the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015.
(2) It extends to the Islamabad Capital Territory except any area excluded by the Government, by notification, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for coming into force of different provisions of this Act.
2. Definitions.–
(1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) “Administration” means the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration;
(b) “Authority” means the Capital Development Authority;
(c) “budget” means an official statement of the income and expenditure of a local government for a financial year;
(d) “building” includes any shop, house, hut, outhouse, shed, stable or enclosure built of any material and used for any purpose, and also includes a wall, well, verandah, platform, plinth, ramp, stair-case and steps; (e) “building line” means a line beyond which the outer face or any part of an external wall of a building may not project beyond privately owned land in the direction of any street, existing or proposed;
(f) “bye-laws” means bye-laws made under this Act or made under the Capital Development Authority Ordinance 1960 (XXIII of 1960) or the Municipal Administration Ordinance 1960;
(g) “cattle” includes cows, buffaloes, bulls, oxen, bullocks, heifers, calves, camels, sheep, goats and others; (h) “Chairman” means the Chairman of a Union Council as mentioned in section 10;
(i) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898);
(j) “conservancy” means the collection, treatment, removal and disposal of refuse;
(k) “dairy” includes any farm, cattle-shed, cow-house, milk store, milk shop or any other 2 place from where milk or milk products are supplied;
(l) “Deputy Mayor” means a Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Corporation elected under section 11;
(m) “District” means the area specified in section 2 of the Capital of the Republic (Determination of Area) Ordinance, 1963 (Ordinance VI of 1963);
(n) “drain” includes a sewer, a house drain, a drain of any other description, a tunnel, a culvert, a ditch, a channel or any other device for carrying sullage or rain water;
(o) “dwelling house” means any building used substantially for human habitation;
(p) “Election Commission” means the Election Commission constituted under Article 218 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
(q) “factory” means a factory as defined in the Factories Act, 1934 (XXV of 1934);
(r) “food” includes every eatable used for food or drink by human beings but does not include drugs or water;
(s) “Government” means Federal Government as the Rules of Business may specify.
(t) “infectious disease” means cholera, plague, smallpox and tuberculosis, and includes such other disease as the Government may, by notification, declare to be infectious or disease for purposes of the Ordinance;
(u) “land” includes the land which is being built up or is built up or is covered with water or is under cultivation or is fallow;
(v) “Local Fund” means the fund of a local government established under section 77;
(w) “local government” means a Union Council or the Metropolitan Corporation established under this Act; (x) “market” means a place where persons assemble for the sale and purchase of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables or any other article of food or for the sale and purchase of livestock or animals and includes any place which may be notified as a market;
(y) “Master Plan” means the Master Plan developed, maintained and enforced by Capital Development Authority;
(z) “Mayor” means the Mayor of the Metropolitan Corporation elected as such under section 11;
(aa) “member” means a member of a local government;
(bb) “Metropolitan Corporation” means the Metropolitan Corporation notified as such under section 8;
(cc) “misconduct” means transgression of the prescribed code of conduct or dereliction of duty or deliberate unlawful behavior or violation of law or rules or lawful directions or orders of the Government and includes: (i) gross negligence in the performance of duties with manifest wrongful intent or evil design; or
(ii) an act that results in wrongful gain to any person by wrongful application of law; or
(iii)making or managing appointment, promotion or transfer of an officer or official in violation of law or rules or for extraneous consideration; or
(iv) bribery, corruption, jobbery, favoritism, nepotism or willful diversion of the fund of the local government; 3 (dd) “municipal offence” means an act or omission punishable under this Act and includes an act or omission declared as municipal offence under any other law for the time being in force in Islamabad Capital Territory; (ee) ”notification” means notification issued by the Government under this Act and published in the Official Gazette. (ff) “nuisance” includes any act, omission, place or thing which causes or is likely to cause injury as may be specified, danger, annoyance or offence to the sense of sight, smell or hearing or which is or may be dangerous to life or injurious to health or property; (gg) “occupier” means any person, for the time being, in actual lawful occupation of the land or building and includes an owner in actual occupation of the land or building; (hh) “owner” includes the person for the time being receiving the rent of land and buildings or either of them, including an agent or trustee for any person or society or for any religious or charitable purpose or who would so receive the same if land or building was let to a tenant; (ii) “peasant” means a landless farm worker or, a person, who during the period of five years preceding the year in which the election is held, owning less than five acres of land as sole owner for subsistence living; (jj) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules as defined under clause (ss); (kk) “prohibited zone” means any area or areas within a local government declared as prohibited zone by a public notice for purposes of the Ordinance; (ll) “public road” means and includes a road or street or way maintained by the Government or by a local government or by any other local authority; (mm) “public place” means any building, premises or place to which the public have access; (nn) “rate” means and includes the charges that may be fixed and levied by the local governments for provision of any services, for which it incurs a cost, provided under this Act ; (oo) “refuse” includes rubbish, offal, night-soil, carcasses of animals, deposits of sewerage, waste and any other offensive matter;
(pp) “rent” means whatever is by law payable in money or kind by a tenant or lessee on account of lawful occupation or use of any building or land;
(qq) “revenue estate” means a revenue estate declared under the Land Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967) as adapted in the Islamabad Capital Territory;
(rr) “road” includes a road or a street or way which is not a thoroughfare;
(ss) “rules” means rules made under the Ordinance or deemed to have been made under this Act; (tt) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to this Act;
(uu) “streets line” means a line dividing the land comprised in, and forming part of, a road or street from the adjoining land;
(vv) “tax” includes any cess, rate, fee, toll or other charge levied under this Act;
(ww) “technocrat” means a person who is the holder of a degree requiring conclusion of at least sixteen years of education recognized by the Higher Education Commission and at least five years of experience in the relevant field;
(xx) “Union Council” means an area notified as a Union Council under section 6;
(yy) “vehicle” means a wheeled conveyance capable of being used on a road or street; 4
(zz) “Vice Chairman” means the Vice Chairman of a Union Council as mentioned in section 10;
(aaa) “village” means an integrated and contiguous human habitation commonly identified by a name and includes a dhok, chak, gaown, basti or any other comparable habitation within a revenue estate;
(bbb) “voter” means a person, whose name for the time being appears on the electoral rolls prepared or adapted for the purposes of the election under the Ordinance;
(ccc) “worker” means a person directly engaged in work or is dependent on personal labour for subsistence living and includes a worker as defined in the Industrial Relations Act 2012 (X of 2012);
(ddd) “youth” means a person who is enrolled as a voter in the respective Union Council and is less than twenty-five years of age on last day fixed for filing of nomination papers; and
(eee) Zoning Regulation” means the Islamabad Capital Territory Zoning Regulations 1992.
(2) The expressions, not defined in sub-section(1), shall have the same meaning as defined in any other relevant law or generally used.
3. Local governments to work within the existing framework.—
(1) The local governments established under this Act shall faithfully observe all laws applicable in Islamabad Capital Territory.
(2) In the performance of their functions, the local governments shall not impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive authority of the Government or any office performing functions of the Provincial Government in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
(3) The development, planning and overall maintenance of the Master plan within the specified area of Islamabad Capital Territory will continue to vest with Capital Development Authority and thus the overall Master Plan shall apply and no action by any authority, body or corporation shall be initiated in violation of the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 and the Zoning regulations duly approved by the Government. All powers to be exercised and rules to be enforced shall be subject to the planning framework already set in the aforementioned laws, rules and regulations.
(4) This legal framework shall without derogation to the existing laws and regulations of the Islamabad Capital Territory and Capital Development Authority and segments not covered by the prevalent law shall be covered by the respective local Government, as determined by the Government. Wherever there is a clash between the existing law and provisions of this Act, the existing law shall prevail unless clearly specified or repealed.
CHAPTER II LOCAL AREAS
4. Local areas.-
(1) For purposes of this Act, the Government shall, by notification, specify the local area within Islamabad Capital Territory as Union Councils and for the Metropolitan Corporation, as the case may be;
(2) The Government may, by notification, after inviting public objections and suggestions, alter the limits of a local area and declare that any area shall cease to be a Union Council.
(3) Any two or more adjoining Union Councils within Islamabad Capital Territory may, after inviting public objections through a resolution passed by two-third majority of the total membership of each of the Union Councils, make a proposal to the Government for a change in their respective 5 boundaries subject to the condition that no revenue estate shall be divided and the size of population in the relevant Union Council shall, as far as possible, be close to the average population of similar Union Councils in Islamabad Capital Territory.
(4) The Government may, with the concurrence of the Election Commission, alter the limits of a local area under this section after the initiation of proceedings of delimitation of constituencies by the Election Commission but the Government shall not alter the limits of a local area after the announcement of election schedule for election in local area.
5. Division and reconstitution of a local government.—
(1) The Government may, by notification, divide a local government into two or more local governments or alter the limits of a local government and may specify in the notification the consequences which shall ensue upon the publication of such notification.
(2) When, as a result of such division or reconstitution, any new local government is constituted, in accordance with the provisions of this Act in the manner specified in the notification:
(a) the existing members of any local government so divided or reconstituted shall become the members of such local government as the Government may, by notification, specify as if each such member had been elected to that local government; and
(b) such local government shall, to the extent and in the manner specified in the notification, be the successor of the local government so divided or reconstituted.
6. Local Government and Delimitation.-
(1) The Government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, determine the number of Union Councils within Islamabad Capital territory.
(2) After the demarcation of the Local Government under section 5 and determination of number of Union Councils, the Election Commission, shall delimit Union Councils.
(3) The Election Commission shall delimit and notify the Councils on the basis of the principles laid down in section 7, as nearly as possible, under the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, 1974 (XXXIV of 1974) or any other Act of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).
7. Delimitation of Union Councils.–
(1) A Union Council shall be an area consisting of one or more revenue estates or, in the case of an area where revision of settlement under the law has not taken place, one or more census villages or, in the case of an urban area, a census block or blocks as delimited for purposes of the last preceding census or a census block and a revenue estate, notified as such by the Election Commission.
(2) As far as possible: (a) the area of a Union Council shall be a territorial unity; (b) the boundaries of a Union Council shall not cross the limits of the Metropolitan Corporation; and (c) the population of Union Councils within the Metropolitan Corporation shall be uniform. 8. Waiver of conditions.— The Election Commission may, in a specific case and for reasons to be recorded in writing, waive the conditions of delimitation mentioned in Section 6.
6 CHAPTER III CONSTITUTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
9. Constitution of Local Governments.—
(1) Subject to subsection
(2), the local governments constituted under this Act shall be:
(a) Metropolitan Corporation for Islamabad Capital Territory and
(b) Union Councils for Islamabad Capital Territory as the Government may notify.
(2) The Government may, by notification, declare any area in Islamabad Capital Territory to be a Union Council.
(3) The Government may, by notification, specify the name by which local government shall be known and unless the name of a local government is so specified, it shall be known as the local government of the place where its office is situate.
CHAPTER IV COMPOSITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
10. Local governments.— (1) Local governments shall consist of Union Councils and Metropolitan Corporation as given in section 10 and section 11, respectively. (2) If there are more than one member in any category of seats in a local government, the election shall be held on the basis of proportional representation.
11. Union Council.– A Union Council shall consist of the following members elected under Chapter V:
(i) Chairman and Vice Chairman, as joint candidates;
(ii) Six general members;
(iii) two women;
(iv) one peasant or worker;
(v) one youth member; and
(vi) one non-Muslim.
12. Metropolitan Corporation.— (1) The Metropolitan Corporation shall consist of the following members elected under Chapter V:
(i) Mayor and Deputy Mayor, as joint candidates;
(ii) Chairmen of all Union Councils;
(iii) women;
(iv) peasants/workers;
(v) technocrats;
(vi) youth members; and
(vii) non-Muslims.
(2) The number of women should not be less than 33 per cent, peasants/workers not less than 5 per cent, non-Muslims not less than 5 per cent, youth not less 5 per cent each and technocrat not less than 2 per cent. The numbers shall be computed by the 7 government accordingly through a notification issued from time to time. (3) The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall be elected as joint candidates, in the first session of the Metropolitan Corporation, from amongst the members mentioned at serial number (ii) to (vii) of sub-section (1), by majority of the members mentioned at serial number (ii) to (vii) of sub-section (1) present and voting. 13. Saving.— Nothing contained in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent a woman, peasant, worker, technocrat or a non-Muslim from being a candidate or elected to a general seat in any local government. CHAPTER V LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 14. Franchise.— Save as otherwise provided, election of members of all local governments, shall be held through secret ballot on the basis of adult franchise in such manner as may be prescribed. 15. Election of the members of the Union Councils.— Members of each Union Councils shall be directly elected by the voters registered in the concerned Union Council. 16. Election of the members of the Metropolitan Corporation.— Members of Metropolitan Corporation, mentioned at serial number (iii) to (vii) of sub-section (1) of Section 11, shall be elected by the members of the Union Councils present and voting. 17. Election Commission to conduct elections.— (1) The Election Commission shall conduct the local government elections. (2) The Election Commission may, by order in the Official Gazette, make provisions for the conduct of local government elections if no provisions or no sufficient provisions have been made under this Act or the rules. 18. Executive Authority to assist the Election Commission.— It shall be the duty of all executive authorities in the Islamabad Capital Territory to assist the Election Commission in the discharge of its functions. 19. Electoral rolls.— (1) A person shall be entitled to be enrolled as a voter if he: (a) is a citizen of Pakistan; (b) is not less than eighteen years of age; and (c) fulfils such other conditions as the Election Commission may specify. (2) The electoral rolls for the local government elections shall be prepared by the Election Commission in such manner as it may deem appropriate and the electoral rolls shall not be invalid by reason of any erroneous description in the electoral rolls of any person listed or of an omission of the name of any person entitled to be enrolled or of inclusion of the name of any person not so entitled. (3) Every person whose name is entered in the electoral roll shall be entitled to cast a vote at the direct elections of the local government. 20. Appointment of Returning Officer etc.— (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Election Commission shall appoint from amongst the officers of the Election Commission, the Government, a body or entity controlled by the Government, a Returning Officer and an Assistant Returning Officer for each constituency for purposes of direct election under this Act. 8 (2) The Election Commission may appoint a person as Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer for two or more constituencies. (3) An Assistant Returning Officer shall assist the Returning Officer in the performance of his functions under this Act and may, subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Election Commission, exercise and perform, under the control of the Returning Officer, the powers and functions of the Returning Officer. (4) It shall be the duty of a Returning Officer to do all such acts as may be necessary for effectively conducting an election in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules. 21. Polling station.— (1) The Returning Officer shall, before such time as the Election Commission may fix, propose to the Election Commission a list of polling stations for the constituency. (2) The Election Commission may make such alterations in the list of polling stations submitted under subsection (1) as it deems necessary and shall forward to the Returning Officer the final list of the polling stations. (3) The Returning Officer shall establish in each constituency polling stations according to the final list sent by the Election Commission specifying the electoral area and the voters of the electoral area who shall be entitled to vote at each polling station, and shall, at least seventy two hours before the polling day, give wide publicity of the polling stations, in such manner as he may deem fit. (4) A polling station shall not be located in any premises which belong to or are under the control of any candidate. 22. Presiding Officers and Polling Officers.— (1) A Returning Officer shall appoint for each polling station a Presiding Officer and such number of Assistant Presiding Officers and Polling Officers to assist the Presiding Officer as the Returning Officer may consider necessary. (2) A person who is, or has at any time been, in the employment of any candidate shall not be appointed as a Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer. (3) The Returning Officer shall submit a list of Presiding Officers and Polling Officers to the Election Commission at least fifteen days before the polling day for approval and no change in the personnel shall be made except with the approval of the Election Commission. (4) A Presiding Officer shall conduct the poll in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and shall be responsible for maintaining order at the polling station and shall report to the Returning Officer any fact or incident which may, in his opinion, affect the fairness of the poll. (5) The Returning Officer shall authorize one of the Assistant Presiding Officers to act in place of the Presiding Officer if the Presiding Officer is at any time during the poll, by reason of illness or other cause, not present at the polling station, or is unable to perform his functions. (6) The Returning Officer may, at any time during the poll, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suspend any Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer and make such arrangements as he may consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the Officer so suspended. 23. Supply of electoral rolls.— (1) The Election Commission shall provide the electoral rolls of the constituency to the Returning Officer. (2) The Returning Officer shall provide to the Presiding Officer the electoral rolls, containing the names of the voters entitled to vote at a polling station. 9 24. Other powers and functions of the Election Commission.— In addition to the powers and functions of the Election Commission under this Act, the Election Commission shall, in relation to local government elections, exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed. 25. Qualifications for candidates.— A person shall qualify to be elected as a member or to hold an elected office of a local government, if he: (a) is a citizen of Pakistan; (b) the youth member, is not less than twenty five years of age on the last day fixed for filing the nomination papers; or (c) is enrolled as a voter in the electoral rolls of the Union Council. 26. Disqualifications for candidates and elected members.— (1) A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, an elected member of a local government, if he- (a) ceases to be citizen of Pakistan or acquires citizenship of a foreign State; (b) is declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind; (c) is an undischarged insolvent; (d) is in the service of Pakistan or of a local government; (e) is in the service of any statutory body or a body which is owned or controlled by the Federal Government or a local government or, in which any of such Government or local government has a controlling share or interest, except the holders of elected public office and part-time officials remunerated either by salary or fee; provided that in case of a person who has resigned or retired from any such service, a period of not less than two years has elapsed since his resignation or retirement; (f) is under an existing contract for work to be done or goods to be supplied to a local government or has otherwise any direct pecuniary interest in its affairs; (g) has been dismissed from public service on the grounds of misconduct unless a period of five years has elapsed since his dismissal; (h) has been removed or compulsorily retired from public service on the grounds of misconduct unless a period of three years has elapsed since his removal or compulsory retirement; (i) has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction for a term not less than two years for an offence involving moral turpitude or misuse of power or authority under any law unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release; (j) has been convicted for an offence involving activities prejudicial to the ideology, interest, security, unity, solidarity, peace and integrity of Pakistan unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release; and (k) has used for his election the platform, flag, symbol, affiliation and financial or material resources or support of a political, religious, ethnic or sectarian party or organization. (2) If a person: (a) is found by the Election Commission to have contravened any provisions of Section 24 or subsection (1) of section 25, he shall stand disqualified from being a candidate for election to any office of a local government for a period of four years; or (b) has been elected as a member of a local government and is found by the Election Commission to have contravened any provision of Section 24 or subsection (1) of section 25, he shall cease forthwith to be an elected member or to hold the office of such member and shall stand disqualified from being a candidate for election to a local government for a period of four years. 10 27. Bar against dual membership.— (1) A Mayor, a Deputy Mayor, a Chairman or a Vice Chairman may contest election for any other political office after resigning from the office of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman. (2) A member of a local government, other than the Chairman of a Union Council, may contest election for any other political office without resigning from the membership of the local government but any such member shall not simultaneously hold more than one office. (3) If a member of a local government is elected to any other political office, on the notification of election of that political office, his seat as member of the local government shall become vacant. (4) If a Chairman of a Union Council is elected as the Mayor or a Deputy Mayor, he shall cease to be the Chairman of the Union Council and the seat of the Chairman of the Union Council shall stand vacated. (5) Nothing in this section shall apply to bar a member of a local government to contest the election of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman of a local government. 28. Conduct of elections.— The election to a local government shall be conducted in the prescribed manner. 29. Term of office.— (1) Subject to the this Act, the term of office of a local government shall be five years commencing on the date on which it holds its first meeting. (2) The first meeting of a local government shall be held not later than thirty days from the day on which the names of its members are notified. (3) On the expiry of the term of office of a local government, the Government may appoint an administrator to perform the functions of the local government until the elected local government assumes office which period shall not exceed six months. (4) Save as otherwise provided, a local government shall in its first meeting and to the exclusion of any other business, elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor or Deputy Mayors, Chairman and Vice Chairman in the prescribed manner. 30. Oath of office.— (1) A member shall, before taking his seat in a local government, make and subscribe to an oath in such form as may be prescribed. (2) The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Vice Chairman shall assume office by making and subscribing to an oath in such form as may be prescribed. (3) A Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Vice Chairman and a member shall, after taking oath of office, declare his assets in the prescribed manner. 31. Vacancy.— If the office of a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman, or a member indirectly elected on a reserved seat, for any reason, falls vacant during the term of office of a local government, the new Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman, Vice Chairman or member shall be elected in the prescribed manner within thirty days from the date when such vacancy is notified and he shall, subject to this Act, hold office for the remaining term of the local government. 32. Removals.— (1) Where proceedings of disqualification under section 25 have been initiated against a member, the Election Commission or any authority authorised by it may issue a notice to the member to show cause within a specified period as to why proceedings against him may not be taken for his removal for breach of any of the provisions of section 25. 11 (2) Where the Election Commission or an authority authorised by it is not satisfied with the reply to the notice referred to in subsection (1) or any reply to the said notice is not filed within the period fixed by it, it may order for an enquiry in the matter and for that purpose appoint an enquiry officer. (3) On the basis of enquiry held under subsection (2), the Election Commission or an authority authorised by it may order the removal of the member. 33. Resignation.— (1) A Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman, Vice Chairman or a member may resign his office by tendering resignation in writing under his hand to the local government of which he is the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman, Vice Chairman or a member. (2) The resignation tendered under subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been accepted and effective forthwith and the local government shall forward copies of the resignation to the Election Commission and the Government. 34. Vote of no-confidence.— (1) Subject to this section, a Mayor or Deputy Mayor, shall cease to hold office if a vote of no-confidence is passed against him in the prescribed manner by two-third majority of the total number of members of the local government. (2) A motion of no-confidence shall not be moved before the expiry of one year of his assumption of office as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. (3) Where a motion of no-confidence against the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, has been moved and fails for want of the requisite majority of votes in a meeting, no similar motion shall be moved against him before the expiry of one year from the date when such motion was moved. 35. Bar against re-election or re-appointment.— When a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman, of a local government, is removed from office on the ground of misconduct, he shall not, during the unexpired period of the term of that local government be eligible for re-election or reappointment to any office during the remaining term of the local government. 36. Notification of election, resignation and removal.— (1) Every election or removal of a member shall be notified by the Election Commission. (2) The Government shall notify: (a) vacation of office owing to resignation or death of a member; and (b) election, appointment or vacation of office, owing to any cause, of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman. 37. Election petition.— (1) Subject to this Act, an election to an office of a local government shall not be called in question except by an election petition. (2) A candidate may, in the prescribed manner, file an election petition before the Election Tribunal challenging an election under this Act. 38. Election Tribunal.— (1) The Election Commission shall, by notification, appoint an Election Tribunal for such local area as may be specified in the notification. (2) The Election Commission may transfer an election petition from one Election Tribunal to another Election Tribunal. 12 (3) Subject to the rules, the Election Commission may, by notification, issue instructions for presentation, hearing and trial of an election petition. (4) The Election Tribunal shall decide an election petition within one hundred and twenty days from the date of filing of the election petition. 39. Powers of Election Tribunal.— The Election Tribunal may exercise powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) and shall be deemed to be a Court within the meaning of sections 480 and 482 of the Code. 40. Decision of the Election Tribunal.— (1) The Election Tribunal may, on the conclusion of trial of an election petition, make an order- (a) dismissing the petition; (b) declaring the election of the returned candidate to be void; (c) declaring the election of the returned candidate to be void and the petitioner or any other contesting candidate to have been duly elected; or (d) declaring the election as a whole to be void. (2) The decision of the Election Tribunal shall take effect from the date on which it is made and shall be communicated to the Election Commission. 41. Ground for declaring election of returned candidate void.— (1) The Election Tribunal shall declare the election of the returned candidate to be void if it is satisfied that- (a) the nomination of the returned candidate was invalid; or (b) the returned candidate was not, on the nomination day, qualified for or was disqualified from, being elected as a member; or (c) the election of the returned candidate has been procured or induced by any corrupt or illegal practice; or (d) corrupt or illegal practice has been committed by the returned candidate or his election agent or by any other person with the connivance of the candidate or his election agent. (2) The election of a returned candidate shall not be declared void if the Election Tribunal is satisfied that any corrupt or illegal practice was committed without the consent or connivance of that candidate or his election agent and that the candidate and the election agent took all reasonable precaution to prevent its commission. 42. Ground for declaring a person other than a returned candidate elected.— The Election Tribunal shall declare the election of the returned candidate to be void and the petitioner or any other contesting candidate to have been duly elected, if it is so claimed by the petitioner or any of the respondents and the Election Tribunal is satisfied that the petitioner or such contesting candidate was entitled to be declared elected. 43. Ground for declaring elections as a whole void.— The Election Tribunal shall declare the election as a whole to be void if it is satisfied that the result of the election has been materially affected by reasons of- (a) the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules; or 13 (b) the prevalence of extensive corrupt or illegal practice at the election. 44. Decision in case of equality of votes.— Where after the conclusion of the trial, it appears that there is an equality of votes between two or more contesting candidates and the addition of one vote for one such candidate would entitle him to be declared elected, the Election Tribunal shall draw a lot in respect of such candidates and the candidate on whom the lot falls shall be deemed to have received the highest number of votes entitling him to be declared elected. 45. Appeal against the orders of Election Tribunal.— (1) Any person aggrieved by a final order of an Election Tribunal may, within thirty days of the communication of such order, prefer an appeal to the Islamabad High Court. (2) The Islamabad High Court shall decide an appeal preferred under subsection (1) within ninety days. 46. Corrupt practice.— A person guilty of bribery, personating or undue influence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both. 47. Bribery.— A person is guilty of bribery if he, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf: (a) receives, agrees or contracts for any gratification for voting or refrains from voting or refrains from being a candidate at or withdrawing or retiring from, an election; (b) gives, offers or promises any gratification to any person for the purpose of – (i) inducing a person to be or to refrain from being a candidate at an election; or (ii) inducing a voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election; or (iii) inducing a candidate to withdraw or retire from an election; or (iv) rewarding a person for having been or for having refrained from being a candidate at an election; or (v) rewarding a voter for having voted or refrained from voting at an election; or (vi) rewarding a candidate for having withdrawn or retried from an election. Explanation:- In this section, ‘gratification’ includes a gratification in money or estimable in money and employment for reward. 48. Personating.— A person is guilty of personating, if he votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting as some other person whether that other person is living, dead or fictitious. 49. Undue influence.— A person is guilty of undue influence, if he: (a) in order to compel any person to vote, refrain from voting, or to induce or compel any person to withdraw his candidature at an election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf: (i) makes or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint; (ii) inflicts or threatens to inflict any injury, damage, harm or loss; or (iii) uses any official influence or Governmental patronage; or 14 (b) on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having withdrawn his candidature, does any of the acts specified in clause (a); or (c) by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance- (i) impedes or prevents the free exercise of the franchise by a voter; or (ii) compels, induces or prevails upon any voter to refrain from voting or compels any voter to vote. Explanation:- In this section, ‘harm’ includes social ostracism or excommunication or expulsion from any caste or community. 50. Illegal practice.— A person is guilty of illegal practice punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, if he- (a) obtains or procures, or attempts to obtain or procure, the assistance of any officer or official of the Federal Government, or a local government or authority to further or hinder the election of a candidate; (b) votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting at an election knowing that he is not qualified for voting or is disqualified from voting; (c) votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting more than once at any polling station; (d) removes a ballot paper or a ballot box from a polling station or destroys, damages or tampers with the ballot-box used at a polling station; (e) knowingly induces or procures any person to do any of the aforesaid acts; (f) fails to provide statement of election expenses as required under this Act; (g) makes or publishes a false statement- (i) concerning the personal character of a candidate or his relation calculated to adversely affect the election of such candidate or, for purposes of promoting or procuring the election of another candidate, unless he proves that he had reasonable ground for believing, and did believe, the statement to be true; (ii) relating to the symbol of a candidate whether or not such symbol has been allocated to such candidate; or (iii) regarding the withdrawal of a candidate; (h) knowingly, in order to support or oppose a candidate, lets, lends, employs, hires, borrows or uses any vehicle or vessel for purposes of conveying voters to or from the polling station, except when a person conveys himself or any member of the household to which he belongs, to or from the polling station; or (i) causes or attempts to cause any person present and waiting to vote at the polling station to depart without voting. 51. Prohibition of canvassing.— A person is guilty of an offence punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, if he, on the polling day in connection with the election,- (a) convenes, calls or organises within a ward any meeting; or 15 (b) within a radius of two hundred meters of the polling station- (i) canvasses for votes; (ii) solicits vote of any voter; (iii) persuades any voter not to vote at the election or for a particular candidate; or (iv) exhibits, except with the permission of the returning officer and at a place reserved for the candidate or his polling agent beyond the radius of one hundred meters of the polling station, any notice, sign, banner or flag designed to encourage the voters to vote, or discourage the voters from voting, for any contesting candidate. 52. Disorderly conduct near polling station.— A person is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to three thousand rupees or with both, if he - (a) uses, in such manner as to be audible within the polling station any gramophone, megaphone, loudspeaker or other apparatus for reproducing or amplifying sounds; or (b) persistently shouts in such manner as to be audible within the polling station; or (c) does any act which- (i) disturbs or causes annoyance to any voter visiting a polling station for the purpose of voting; or (ii) interferes with the performance of the duty of a presiding officer, polling officer or any other person performing any duty at a polling station; or (d) abets the doing of any of the aforesaid acts. 53. Tampering with papers.— A person is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both, if he- (a) fraudulently defaces or destroys any nomination paper or ballot paper; (b) fraudulently takes out of the polling station any ballot paper or puts into any ballot box any ballot paper other than the ballot paper he is authorized under the rules to put in; (c) without due authority- (i) supplies any ballot paper to any person; (ii) destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with any ballot box or packet or ballot papers in use for the purpose of election; or (iii) breaks any seal affixed in accordance with the provisions of the rules; or (d) causes any delay or interruption in the beginning, conduct or completion of the procedure required to be immediately carried out on the close of the poll; or (e) fraudulently or without due authority attempts to do any of the aforesaid acts. 54. Interference with the secrecy of voting.— A person is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both, if he: (a) interferes or attempts to interfere with a voter when he records his vote; 16 (b) in any manner obtains or attempts to obtain, in a polling station, information as to the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted; or (c) communicates at any time any information obtained in a polling station about the candidate for whom a voter in that station is about to vote or has voted. 55. Failure to maintain secrecy.— Any candidate or polling agent attending a polling station, or any person attending the counting of votes, is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both, if he- (a) fails to maintain or aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting; or (b) communicates any information obtained at the counting of votes as to the candidate for whom any vote is given by any particular ballot paper. 56. Conduct of officials.— A presiding officer, polling officer or any other officer or official performing duty in connection with an election, or any member of a police force, is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both, if he, during the conduct or management of an election or maintenance of order at the polling station:- (a) persuades any person to give his vote; (b) dissuades any person from giving his vote; (c) influences in any manner the voting of any person; (d) does any other act calculated to further or hinder the election of a candidate; (e) fails to maintain or aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting; (f) communicates, except for any purpose authorised by any law, to any person before the poll is closed any information as to the name or number on the electoral roll of any voter who has or has not applied for a ballot paper, or has or has not voted at a polling station; or (g) communicates any information obtained at the counting of votes as to the candidate for whom any vote is given by any particular ballot paper. 57. Breaches of official duty in connection with election.— A Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer, Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer, or any other person employed by any such officer in connection with his official duties imposed by or under this Act is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both, if he, willfully and without reasonable cause, commits breach of any such official duty, by act or omission. 58. Assistance by Government servants.— A person in the service of the Government, a local government or a body owned or controlled by the Government or a local government is guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both if he, in any manner, gives any assistance calculated to further or hinder the election of a candidate. 59. Summary trial.— All offences under this Chapter except the offence under section 45 shall be tried summarily under the provisions of the Code. 17 60. Cognizance.— A Court shall not take cognizance of an offence under section 56 or section 57 except on a complaint in writing of the Election Commission or the Returning Officer. 61. Offence to be cognizable.— An offence punishable under section 45 shall be a cognizable offence. 62. Prosecution of offences under this Chapter.— (1) Subject to section 59, a Court shall not take cognizance of an offence under this Chapter except on a complaint in writing made by order or under authority of the Election Commission. (2) An offence punishable under this Chapter shall be triable by a Magistrate of first class. CHAPTER VI EXECUTIVE POWERS AND CONDUCT OF BUSINESS 63. Executive authority and conduct of business.— (1) The executive authority of a local government shall extend to doing of all acts necessary for the due discharge of its functions under this Act. (2) Save as otherwise provided, the executive authority of a local government shall vest in and be exercised by its Mayor or Chairman. (3) The Government may by notification, delegate any function of a Mayor or a Chairman to a Deputy Mayor or Vice Chairman subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in the notification. (4) All acts of a local government, whether executive or otherwise, shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the local government and shall be authenticated in the manner prescribed. (5) For Metropolitan Corporation, the Government shall appoint a Chief Officer and such number of other officers as may be prescribed. (6) The Chief Officer of Metropolitan Corporation shall be its Principal Accounting Officer and, in case of a Union Council, the Chairman of the Union Council shall be the Principal Accounting Officer. (7) The Chief Officer shall ensure coordination between the Metropolitan Corporation and the Union Councils in Islamabad Capital Territory and the Government. (8) The Chief Officer shall be responsible for ensuring adherence by the Metropolitan Corporation to all laws, policies and oversight framework of the Government in the prescribed manner. 64. Additional functions.— (1) The Government may, in the prescribed manner, devolve one or more of its functions to a local government for improved and efficient service delivery to the citizens. (2) In the performance of the functions mentioned in subsection (1), a local government shall be bound by the directions of the Government. (3) The Government shall, in the prescribed manner, provide technical support and fiscal resources required for carrying out the said functions by a local government. 18 65. Delegated functions.— (1) The Metropolitan Corporation may, in the prescribed manner, devolve one or more of its functions to the Union Councils for improved and efficient service delivery to the citizens. (2) In the performance of the function mentioned in subsection (1), a Union Council shall be bound by the directions of the Metropolitan Corporation. (3) The Metropolitan Corporation shall, in the prescribed manner, provide technical support and fiscal resources required for carrying out the devolved functions by a Union Council. 66. Conduct of business.— (1) The business of a local government shall be conducted in the prescribed manner. (2) Any proceedings or decision of a local government shall not be invalid merely because of a vacancy or defect in the membership of the local government. (3) A local government may appoint committees consisting of such number of its members and other persons to perform such functions and in such manner as may be prescribed. 67. Meetings.— (1) A local government shall, within three months of the assumption of office, frame bye-laws for the conduct of its meetings. (2) A meeting of a local government shall be presided over by the Mayor or Chairman and, in his absence, by the Deputy Mayor or Vice Chairman and, in the absence of both, by a member chosen for that purpose by the members present. (3) A local government shall hold at least one meeting during a month. (4) A meeting of a local government shall be open to public except when a local government, by simple majority, decides to consider any matter in a session attended exclusively by its members and officials. (5) The Chief Officer or an officer authorised by him shall record minutes of the meeting of a local government and submit the same to the person who presided the meeting for approval. (6) The Chief Officer shall, after approval, issue the minutes of a meeting under his signatures. (7) A member who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any partner, employer or employee has any share or interest in respect of any matter or has acted professionally, in relation to any matter on behalf of any person having therein any share or interest as aforesaid, shall not vote or take any other part in any proceedings of the local government or any of its committees. 68. Contracts.— (1) All contracts made by or on behalf of a local government shall be: (a) in writing and expressed to be made in the name of the local government; (b) executed in such manner as may be prescribed; and (c) reported to the local government by the Mayor or the Chairman at the meeting next following the execution of the contract. (2) A local government may assign any of its functions to a public or private organization on such terms and conditions or enter into public-private partnership for efficient performance of any of its functions as may be prescribed. 69. Reporting and evaluation.— (1) A local government shall - (a) maintain such record of its working as may be prescribed or required by the 19 Government; (b) prepare and publish such periodical reports and returns as may be prescribed or required by the Government; and (c) adopt such other measures as may be necessary for the publication of information about the working of the local government. (2) The performance evaluation of officers and officials of the local governments shall be made in the prescribed manner. CHAPTER VII UNION COUNCILS 70. Union Councils.— (1) A Union Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold property and enter into any contract and may sue and be sued in its name. (2) The Chairman of a Union Council shall be the executive head of the Union Council and the Vice Chairman of the Union Council shall perform the functions of the Chairman when the Chairman is unable to perform his functions on account of absence or for any other reason. (3) A Chairman of a Union Council shall:- (a) provide leadership for preparation of budget and the annual development plan; (b) present the budget in the Union Council; (c) ensure that the business of Union Council is carried out strictly in accordance with this Act and other laws; (d) issue executive orders to the Union Secretaries; (e) represent the Union Council in the Metropolitan Corporation; and (f) report to the concerned authorities in respect of - (i) encroachment on State or local government property and violation of land use and building laws, rules and bye-laws; (ii) dangerous and offensive articles and trades mentioned in First Schedule; (iii) environmental and health hazards; and (iv) adulteration of articles of food. (4) A Union Council Secretary, under the supervision of the Chairman, shall coordinate and facilitate in community development, functioning of the committees and delivery of municipal services. (5) The Government may, in the prescribed manner, issue a schedule of establishment for a Union Council. 71. Functions of the Union Council.– (1) A Union Council shall, subject to the provisions of the Capital Development Authority Ordinance 1960, perform functions specified in the Second Schedule. 20 CHAPTER VIII METROPOLITAN CORPORATION 72. Metropolitan Corporation.— The Metropolitan Corporation shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold property and enter into any contract and may sue and be sued in its name. 73. Functions of Metropolitan Corporation.— (1) The Metropolitan Corporation shall, subject to the provisions of Capital Development Authority Ordinance 1960 and Islamabad Capital Territory Zoning Regulations 1992 perform functions mentioned in Third Schedule. (2) The Metropolitan Corporation may entrust any of its functions to a person, an authority, agency or company through a contractual arrangement, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 74. Executive Authority.— (1) A Mayor shall be the executive head of the Metropolitan Corporation. (2) The Deputy Mayor, and in case there are more than one Deputy Mayor, the Deputy Mayor who is senior in age, shall perform the functions of the Mayor if the Mayor is unable to perform his functions on account of absence or for any other reason. (3) The Chief Officer shall coordinate and facilitate the performance of functions assigned to the Metropolitan Corporation under the supervision of the Mayor. 75. Mayor.— (1) The Mayor shall- (a) provide vision for leadership and direction for efficient functioning of the Metropolitan Corporation in consultation and coordination with other Government agencies and authorities; (b) recommend to the Metropolitan Corporation, the strategies, programmes and services to address prioritised needs; (c) recommend or determine the best way to implement those strategies, programmes and services through partnerships, delegations, contracts and other means to the maximum benefit of the community; (d) maintain administrative and financial discipline of the Metropolitan Corporation; (e) present tax proposals to the Metropolitan Corporation; (f) issue executive orders to the municipal offices for discharge of the functions of the Metropolitan Corporation; (g) represent the Metropolitan Corporation on public and ceremonial occasions; (h) present proposal to the Metropolitan Corporation for approval of budget; (i) conduct inspections of municipal offices functioning under the Metropolitan Corporation; and (j) to devise mechanisms for accountability and oversight in municipal matters. 21 (2) The Mayor shall, in the performance of duties: (a) identify and develop criteria in terms of which progress in the implementation of the strategies, programmers and services can be evaluated, including key performance indicators; (b) evaluate progress against the key performance indicators; (c) review the performance of the Metropolitan Corporation in order to improve: (i) economy, efficiency and effectiveness; (ii) efficiency of revenue collection services; and (iii) implementation of the bye-laws; (d) oversee formulation and execution of the annual development plan, delivery of services and functioning of the Metropolitan Corporation; (e) present report on the performance of the Metropolitan Corporation to the house of the Metropolitan Corporation at least twice a year; and (f) Perform such other duties and exercise such powers as the Metropolitan Corporation may delegate. 76. Chief Officer.— (1) The Chief Officer shall be responsible for: (a) coordination; (b) internal audit; (c) human resource management; (d) public relations; (e) legal affairs; and (f) emergency services. (2) The Chief Officer, in carrying out his functions, shall: (a) supervise and coordinate all offices responsible for the provision of municipal services; (b) prepare a report on the planning and implementation of development plans of the Metropolitan Corporation for presentation to the house of the Metropolitan Corporation in its annual budget session; (c) ensure that the business of the Metropolitan Corporation is carried out in accordance with the law; (d) ensure implementation of environmental and social safeguards; (e) effect procurements, as prescribed in accordance with law; and (f) take action against violators of this Act, rules or bye-laws. 77. Municipal offices.— The Government may, in the prescribed manner, issue a schedule of establishment for the Metropolitan Corporation and such schedule may include planning, finance, municipal regulation and municipal infrastructure offices. 22 CHAPTER IX LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE 78. Local Fund and Public Account.— (1) A local government shall establish a Local Fund and all the revenues received by the local government from the following sources shall be credited to the Fund: (a) the proceeds of taxes, tolls, fees, rates or charges levied by the local government; (b) grants made to or monies received by the local government from the Government or other sources; (c) rents and profits payable or accruing to the local government from immovable property vested in or controlled or managed by it; (d) proceeds or any other profits from any investment; (e) gifts, grants or contributions to the local government by individual or institutions; (f) income accruing from markets or fairs regulated by the local government; (g) fines and penalties imposed under this Act; (h) proceeds from other sources of income which are placed at the disposal of the local government under directions of the Government; (i) all monies transferred to the local government by the Government; and (j) monies transferred by another local government under this Act. (2) The Government shall transfer the grants of a local government, in the shape of share in the proceeds of taxes of the local government collected by the Government, to the Local Fund of the local government on monthly basis. (3) Every local government shall maintain a Public Account to place all revenues received by the local government from the following sources- (a) receipts accruing from trusts administered or managed by the local government; (b) refundable deposits received by the local government; and (c) deferred liabilities. (4) A local government may establish and maintain a separate account for any special purpose to which one or more sources of revenue mentioned in sub-section (1) or any part of these sources or any specified portion of the Local Fund may be assigned. (5) The separate account under subsection (1) shall be maintained, administered and regulated as if it were a Local Fund. 79. Custody of Local Fund and Public Account.— The monies credited to the Local Fund or the Public Account of a local government shall be kept and operated in an account of the local government in such manner as may be prescribed. 80. Charged expenditure.— (1) The following expenditure shall be charged upon the Local Fund: (a) the money required for repayment of loans; (b) the money required to satisfy any judgment, decree or award against the local government; (c) the money that the local government may be required by the Government to 23 contribute towards the conduct of local government elections and other deferred liabilities of the local government; and (d) such other expenditure of local government as may be prescribed. (2) If any expenditure is a charge upon the Local Fund and is not paid, the Government may, by order, direct the person having the custody of the respective Local Fund to pay such amount from the Local Fund. 81. Application of Local Fund.— (1) Monies credited to a Local Fund shall be expended in accordance with the annual budget and revised budget estimates approved by the local government. (2) A local government shall not transfer monies to any other local government except by way of payment of debts, for carrying out deposit works or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. (3) The application of Local Fund shall be subject to the budgetary constraints and according to the minimum prescribed ratio of development and non-development expenditures. (4) Where a new local government is to take over during a financial year as a result of fresh elections, the outgoing local government shall not spend funds or make commitments for any expenditure under any demand for grant or appropriation in excess of eight percent per month of the budgeted funds for the remainder of its term in office in that financial year. 82. Budget.— (1) The annual budget for a local government shall contain estimates of: (a) grants from the Government; (b) amounts available in the Local Fund; (c) receipts for the next year; and (d) expenditure to be incurred for the next year. (2) The Government shall, sufficiently before the beginning of each financial year, notify the provisional share, which may be credited to the Local Fund of a local government. (3) The functionaries of a local government may re-appropriate budget in accordance with the powers of re-appropriation delegated to them by the local government and at the end of the financial year, a revised budget shall be submitted to the local government for approval. (4) A demand for a grant shall not be made except on the recommendation of the Mayor or the Chairman. (5) Conditional grants from the Government or other local government shall be shown separately in the budget and shall be governed by the conditions on which such grants were made. (6) A local government shall prepare the budget in the prescribed manner and in accordance with the chart of accounts notified by the Auditor-General of Pakistan. 83. Approval of budget.— (1) Before the commencement of the next financial year, the Mayor or Chairman shall present the budget for consideration and approval of the local government. (2) The local government may discuss the charged expenditure but shall not vote on such expenditure. (3) The budget of a local government shall, subject to quorum, be approved by simple majority and the local government shall not take up any other business during the budget session. (4) The Government may review approved budget of a local government, and if found contrary to the budget rules, may require the local government to rectify it. 24 (5) A budget shall not be approved if the sums required to meet estimated expenditure including previous liabilities and commitments exceed the estimated receipts. (6) In case a budget is not approved by a local government before the commencement of the financial year to which it relates, the local government shall spend money under various objects, on pro-rata basis, in accordance with the budgetary provisions of the preceding financial year for a period not exceeding thirty days. (7) A local government shall not spend funds or make commitments for any expenditure, under any demand for grant or appropriation, in excess of eight percent of the amount budgeted in the preceding year within the period of thirty days mentioned in sub-section (6). (8) In case, a local government fails to pass the budget within the extended period as specified in sub-section (6), the Government shall prepare, approve and authenticate the budget of the local government for full year. (9) After approval of the budget by a local government, the Mayor or the Chairman shall authenticate under his signature a schedule specifying: (a) grants made or deemed to have been made by the local government; and (b) sums required to meet the expenditure charged upon the Local Fund. (10) The schedule authenticated under sub-section (8) shall be laid before the local government but shall not be open to discussion or vote. (11) The authenticated schedule shall be communicated to the local government functionaries, accounts officials and the Government. (12) At any time before the expiry of the financial year to which the budget relates, a revised budget for the year may, if necessary, be prepared and such revised budget shall be approved in the manner as that of annual budget. 84. Honoraria and allowances.— A local government may, subject to the prescribed limitations, make budgetary provisions for honoraria and allowances of the Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Vice Chairman or a member of the local government. 85. Accounts.— (1) The accounts of all receipts and expenditure of a local government shall be kept in such form and in accordance with such principles and methods as may be prescribed by the Auditor-General of Pakistan. (2) In addition to maintenance of accounts by Metropolitan Corporation, the government may notify any other officer(s) to maintain such accounts also. (3) The Union Secretary shall maintain the accounts of the Union Council. (4) The officer(s) notified under sub-section (2) shall pre-audit all the payments from the Local Fund of a local government other than the payments from the Local Fund of the Union Councils. (5) The Union Secretary shall pre-audit all the payments from the Local Fund of the Union Council. (6) A local government shall not withdraw or disburse money from the Local Fund unless it is pre-audited in the prescribed manner. (7) The officer(s) notified under sub-section (2) shall, by fifteenth day of July, prepare an annual statement of receipts and expenditures of the accounts of local governments for the preceding financial year and shall transmit the statement to the Government and the concerned local government. (8) A copy of the annual statement of accounts shall be displayed at a conspicuous place 25 in the office of the local government, and on the internet/web, for public inspection and all objections or suggestions concerning such accounts received from the public shall be considered by the local government and appropriate decision shall be taken. (9) The Controller General Accounts shall, on the basis of such audit as he may consider appropriate or necessary, certify the accounts of a local government for each financial year. 86. Audit.— (1) The Auditor-General shall audit the accounts of a local government in the form and manner as may be deemed appropriate. (2) The audit report of the Auditor-General shall be considered by the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly. (3) If in the opinion of the Government, it is necessary in public interest to have a special audit of a local government; it may direct that such audit may be conducted either by the officer notified under Section 84(2) or any other audit agency. (4) After the receipt of special audit report of a local government, the Government may, after enquiry by the Local Government Commission, take appropriate action on the recommendations of the Commission. 87. Local government debt.— (1) A local government shall not incur any debt without previous approval of the Government. (2) A local government may invest surplus funds, if any, in such securities and financial institutions, as may be approved by the Government. CHAPTER X LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXATION 88. Taxes to be levied.— (1) Subject to this Act, a local government may, by notification, levy any tax, fee, rate, rent, toll, charge or surcharge specified in Fourth Schedule. (2) The Government shall vet the tax proposal prior to the approval of the tax by the local government in order to ensure that the proposal is reasonable and in accordance with law. (3) The Government shall vet the tax proposal within thirty days from the date of receipt of the proposal failing which it shall be deemed to have been vetted by the Government. (4) A local government shall not levy a tax without previous publication of the tax proposal and inviting and hearing public objections. (5) A local government may, subject to provision of subsection (1), increase, reduce, suspend, abolish or exempt any tax. 89. Property tax.— (1) The property tax, under this Act, shall be collected by Metropolitan Corporation. (2) In matters for which no provision or no adequate provision relating to the property 26 tax has been made under this Act, the provisions of the Urban Immovable Property Tax Act (West Pakistan Act V of 1958), as adapted in Islamabad Capital Territory, shall apply. (3) The Tax collected under this section shall be distributed amongst the Metropolitan Corporation and Union Councils in such a ratio as the Government may, by notification, specify. 90. Collection of taxes.— (1) A tax or fee levied under this Act shall be collected in the prescribed manner. (2) The Government may prescribe the mode of collection of a tax or a fee levied under this Act. (3) If a person fails to pay any tax or fee or any other money payable to a local government, the local government and, if so requested by the local government, the Government shall recover the tax, fee or other money as arrears of land revenue. (4) The recovery of tax, fee or other money under sub-section (3) shall not absolve the person from prosecution of any offence under this Act or any other law. 91. Additional powers of the Government.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the Government may, by rules, determine the minimum rate of a tax or fee to be levied and collected by a local government. (2) The Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing and by notification, exempt the levy of any tax or fee of a local government for a specified period of not more than fifteen days on any special occasion or in order to alleviate the specific hardship suffered by people at large or a section of people. CHAPTER XI LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 92. Relations of Government and local governments.— (1) A local government shall collect such tax or taxes within its local area as the Government may direct and the local government shall, after the collection of such tax or taxes, deposit the receipts in the relevant Government account. (2) The Government may provide guidelines and render advice to a local government for achieving the objectives of Government policy and for promoting economic, social and environmental security of the Capital Territory. 93. Powers of the Government.— (1) The Government may issue directions to a local government and the local government shall be bound by such directions. (2) Where the situation demands immediate action and the local government fails to comply with the directions given to it under subsection (1), the Government may direct the officer authorized by it to take such action as the situation may necessitate. 94. Entrustment of functions to local government.— (1) When the Government requires a local government to perform any specific task beyond the budgetary provisions of the local government, the Government shall provide necessary resources to the local government. 27 (2) A local government may, with the consent of the Government, entrust any of its functions to the Government or to any other local government. (3) The Government may, with the consent of a local government, decentralize any of its offices other than the offices already decentralized to the local government or entrust any of its functions to the local government and in that case the Government shall provide technical and administrative support and fiscal resources for the performance of such functions. 95. Local Government Commission.— (1) The Government shall appoint a Local Government Commission which shall consist of persons of integrity and good track record of public service. (2) The Commission shall consist of the following: (a) a Chairman, who shall be a retired civil servant or an eminent citizen of integrity and good track record, to be appointed by the Government; (b) two members of the National Assembly, one each nominated by the leader of the House and leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; (c) two eminent, qualified and experienced technocrat members nominated by the Government, including at least one woman; (d) Representative of Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory office not below the rank of BS-19; and (e) Director, Development & Finance, Islamabad Capital Territory (3) The Director, Development & Finance, Islamabad Capital Territory shall be the Secretary of the Commission. (4) The Local Government Commission may co-opt any official of the Government for any specific assignment. (5) Subject to subsection (6), the tenure of the members of the Local Government Commission, other than the Chairman, Secretary and representatives of Chief Commissioner and Chairman Capital Development Authority, shall be five years. (6) The Government may, after serving a notice and opportunity of hearing, remove a member of the Commission after recording reasons. (7) In the event of a casual vacancy in the membership of the Commission, the Government shall, for the residual period, appoint another person of the same category as member of the Commission in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1). (8) The Ministry of Interior or the Administration shall provide secretarial support to the Commission by establishing a separate Secretariat of the Commission. (9) No act or proceedings of the Commission shall be invalid by reason or existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Commission. (10) The Government shall provide a separate budget for the Commission in the annual budget. (11) The Government shall notify the schedule of establishment of the Commission. 28 (12) The Secretary of the Commission shall be the Principal Accounting Officer and the Commission shall have its own drawing and disbursing officer. (13) The Government, its departments and agencies shall aid and assist the Commission in the performance of its functions 96. Functions of the Commission.— (1) The Local Government Commission shall: (a) conduct annual and special inspections of the local governments and submit its reports to the Government; (b) if so directed by the Government, conduct,: (i) an inquiry by itself or through any other agency about any matter concerning a local government; (ii) audit by itself or direct any other agency to conduct a special audit of a local government; (c) resolve the disputes between any Division/Office/Department of the Government and a local government and if the Commission fails to settle the dispute, the aggrieved party may move the Government for resolution of the dispute; (d) enquire into the matters referred to it by the Government or a Chief Officer and give its decision on such matter; (e) conduct social and performance audit of the local governments on the basis of specific performance indicators through a third party and publish the report of such audit; (f) submit to the Government an annual report on the over-all performance of the local governments; (g) take cognizance of violations of laws and rules by a local government in the performance of its functions; and (h) organize consultative planning meetings of National legislators and the Mayors on a periodic basis to provide their participation in development activities with regard to- (i) consultative process of the annual development plan; (ii) formulating procedure for utilization of the Legislators’ development grant; (iii) assessing implementation of decision of these meetings; (iv) carrying out review of development schemes; and (v) facilitation in the performance of departmental functions of the decentralized offices, relating to policy analysis, oversight, checks and balances, capacity building and coordination through the Commission. (2) The decision of the Commission shall be binding on the local governments failing which the Commission may report the matter with specific recommendations to the Government for an appropriate action. (3) The Government may, on the recommendation of the Commission, suspend a Mayor or a Chairman for a maximum period of ninety days for fair conduct of inquiry under sub-section (1) or for 29 preventing the Mayor or Chairman from continuing with any unlawful activity during the pendency of the inquiry. (4) Where, on an inquiry under sub-section (1), the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman is found guilty of misconduct by the Commission, the Commission shall recommend to the Government any appropriate action including removal of the Mayor Deputy Mayor, Chairman or Vice Chairman. (5) The Commission may exercise the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedures, 1908 (V of 1908), in respect of the following matters: (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) compelling the production of documents; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits; and (d) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses. 97. Responsibility of the Commission.— The Local Government Commission shall be responsible to the Government. 98. Local Government Board.— (1) There shall be constituted a Board to be called the Local Government Board consisting of a Chairman and not less than three and not more than five members to be appointed by the Government on such terms and conditions as the Government may determine. (2) The Board shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and transfer property and shall, by its name, sue or be sued. (3) The Chief Commissioner shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Board. (4) The Government shall appoint a Secretary of the Board to deal with day to day administration of the Board and to perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the Board. (5) A local government shall contribute towards the expenditure of the Board an amount calculated at such rate as may, from time to time, be fixed by the Government and the accounts of the Board shall be maintained and audited in the prescribed manner. (6) The Board shall: (a) make appointments, order transfers, take disciplinary action and deal with other service matters in respect of the members of the prescribed local government service cadre; (b) set up and operate pension fund and such other funds as may be considered necessary for the benefit and welfare of the employees of the Board and the prescribed local government service cadre; and (c) perform such other functions as may be prescribed. (7) The business of Board shall be conducted in such manner as may be prescribed. 99. Dissolution of local governments.— (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 28, where, before the expiry of the term of the local governments, the general elections for National Assembly are announced, the Government may, by notification, dissolve the local governments. 30 (2) On the dissolution of the local governments under sub-section (1), all powers and functions of the local governments shall be exercised and performed by such persons or authorities as the Board may appoint in this behalf as Administrators and the funds and properties belonging to the local governments shall vest in Government till such time the elected local governments assume office. CHAPTER XII LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROPERTY 100. Ownership of immovable property.— (1) Subject to any reservations made or any conditions imposed by the Government, the property specified below shall vest in the respective local government if it is: (a) vested in the local government through succession as provided in section 3; (b) transferred to the local government by the Government or any other authority, organisation or an individual; (c) constructed or acquired by the local government with its title; and (d) a road, street or any other immovable property developed by the local government for public purposes with express or implied consent of the owner. (2) Until otherwise directed by the Government, the properties of the Government in possession of the local governments established under the Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 1979 shall pass on to their successors as provided in section 126. (3) The successor local governments shall, subject to policy of the Government or contractual obligations, make bye-laws for the use, development and management of the local government properties. (4) The Government shall not, except with the prior consent of the local government, transfer an immovable property vested in the local government. 101. Transfer of property by the Government.— Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the Government may, on its own accord or on a request by a local government, transfer the management of nazul land, auqaf land or any other Government or public property to it for administration as a trustee. 102. Stock taking by the local government.— (1) Every local government shall once in every year in July, take the physical stock of its movable and immovable properties and publish the report in the prescribed manner. (2) The report referred to in subsection (1) shall contain - (a) particulars of the properties held during the preceding year; (b) total value of the property, annual return there from and change in its value, if any; (c) particulars of unserviceable articles; (d) particulars of losses, if any; and (e) proposal for utilization, development and improvement during the following year. 31 103. Use of properties of local governments.— (1) The properties of local governments shall be used only for public purposes. (2) Subject to this section, a local government shall not sell or permanently alienate any of its immovable property. (3) A local government may grant lease of its immovable property through competitive bidding by public auction in the prescribed manner. (4) The Government may constitute a Committee headed by the Chief Officer of the local government to identify the encroached or redundant properties of a local government that may be sold in the prescribed manner with the approval of the Government and the funds generated from the sale of such properties shall be kept in a separate account and be used only for purposes of development. (5) The movable property of a local government which is required to be disposed of shall be sold through competitive bidding by public auction. 104. Acquisition of immovable property.— (1) Whenever any local government considers it necessary or expedient it may acquire any immovable property for a public purpose. (2) A local government may, in the prescribed manner, purchase an immovable property through an agreement when such property is required for a public purpose. CHAPTER XIII OFFENCES AND ENFORCEMENT 105. Offences, punishments and their cognizance.— (1) The offences specified in Fifth and Sixth Schedules shall be liable to punishment by way of imprisonment, fine, seizure, forfeiture, confiscation and impounding and such other penalties as are provided in this Act. (2) If a person commits an offence specified in- (a) Part-I of Fifth Schedule, such person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees or with both and where an accused was directed by the Inspector for immediate discontinuance of the offence, the Court may impose a further fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees for every day for the period the accused has persisted in the offence from the date of its commission; (b) Part-II of Fifth Schedule, such person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both and where an accused was directed by the Inspector for immediate discontinuance of the offence, the Court may impose a further fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every day for the period the accused persisted in the offence from the date of its commission; 32 (c) Part-III of Fifth Schedule, such person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to twenty five thousand rupees or with both and where an accused was directed by the Inspector for immediate discontinuance of the offence, the Court may impose a further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day for the period the accused persisted in the offence from the date of its commission; and (d) Sixth Schedule, such person shall, in the first instance, be liable to fine by issuing a ticket specified in Seventh Schedule and where an accused repeats the offence within a period of three months for which the accused was subjected to fine, he shall be liable to the same punishment as provided in clause (c). (3) The offences specified in clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (2) shall be cognizable and information in this regard shall be forwarded to the officer in-charge of a police station by the Inspector after prior approval of the Chief Officer for registration of a case against the accused in accordance with the provisions of section 154 of the Code. (4) A Court shall take cognizance of the offences specified in clause (c) of subsection (2) on a complaint made in writing by the Inspector after prior approval of the Chief Officer in accordance with the provisions of section 200 of the Code. (5) The offences specified in Part-III of Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule shall be tried in a summary manner in accordance with the provisions of section 260 to 265 of the Code but the limit of punishment mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 262 of the Code shall not be applicable. (6) The fines imposed by a Court for an offence specified in Sixth Schedule shall on collection be deposited in the Public Account of the local government. (7) The Government may, by notification, entrust to a local government the enforcement of any other law. 106. Appointment and control of Inspectors.— (1) The Mayor or the Chairman shall, with the approval of the local government, authorize the officials of the local government as Inspectors for the enforcement of the offences specified in the Schedules. (2) The prescribed officer shall be the controlling authority and administrative head of an Inspector and the Inspector shall report to the officer for the enforcement of provisions of this Chapter. 107. Imposition of fine through ticketing.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, where any person, in the opinion of an Inspector, is contravening any provision of the law relating to the offences specified in Sixth Schedule, the Inspector shall charge the accused by issuing a ticket in the prescribed form for payment of fine specified in Seventh Schedule, if such offence has been committed for the first time by the accused within three months. (2) The ticket referred to in subsection (1) shall be issued in quadruplicate by delivering three copies to the accused after obtaining his signatures or thumb impression on the fourth copy to be retained by the Inspector for record. (3) The fine may be deposited in the bank account of the local government within ten days from the date of imposition of fine for credit in the Public Account of the local government. (4) The person to whom a ticket has been issued under this section may either contest the imposition of fine in the Court within ten days from the date of the issuance of the ticket or deposit the fine within that period and provide a copy of payment receipt to the office of the local 33 government. 108. Court proceedings for default in deposit of fine.— (1) The prescribed officer shall, on daily basis, provide a scroll of all unpaid tickets to the Court. (2) The Court receiving the scroll shall issue summons to the accused forthwith stating the date of hearing for summary trial in accordance with the provisions of section 260 to 265 of the Code but the limit of punishment mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 262 of the Code shall not be applicable. (3) Where on the first date of hearing, the accused appears before the Court and produces the proof of deposit of fine, or unconditionally admitting his failure, deposits the fine forthwith along with the penalty which shall not be less than ten percent and not more than twenty five percent of the amount of fine determined by the Court in accordance with the procedure provided in subsection (2) of section 388 of the Code further proceedings against the accused may be dropped and no conviction shall be recorded against him. (4) Upon the failure of the accused to appear before the Court in response to the summons issued by it, the Court shall forthwith issue warrants for arrest of the accused and upon issuance of such warrants the accused will be liable to punishment under clause (c) of subsection (2) of section 103. 109. Compounding of offences.— Subject to this Act, a local government shall constitute a committee consisting of the Mayor or the Chairman as its Convener, an officer of the local government and a member of the local government as its members for compounding the offences in the prescribed manner. 110. Municipal Wardens.–(1) A local government, other than a Union Council, may, with the prior approval of the Government, establish and maintain Municipal Wardens in the prescribed manner. (2) The Government may, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, specify the duties which such force may be required to perform. 111. General powers of Inspectors.– (1) In case of any serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare or danger to life and property, or where violation of any rule or bye-law is being committed, the Inspector may, in his area of jurisdiction, in addition to imposition of fine or initiating prosecution under this Act - (a) suspend any work; (b) seize the goods; (c) seal the premises; (d) demolish or remove the work; or (e) issue directions for taking corrective measures within the specified time. (2) An Inspector shall not enter any dwelling unit without permission of the occupier or the Court. (3) An Inspector authorized under section 105 may, in relation to the offences specified in Fifth Schedule - (a) issue notices in writing on behalf of the local government; (b) initiate legal proceedings in the Court; and (c) assist in defending legal proceedings initiated against the local government. 34 112. Rights of citizen not affected.– Nothing contained in this Chapter shall restrict or limit the right of the citizens or residents of a local area to bring any suit or other legal proceedings against any local government, its officers or other functionaries violating his rights provided by any law. CHAPTER XIV MISCELLANEOUS 113. Right to Information.— (1) Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed under rules, a person may seek any information in possession of a local government. (2) Every designated functionary of a local government shall, within fifteen days of an application, provide requisite information to the applicant on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. (3) A local government shall, on quarterly basis, publish on its website or at prominent place information about the staffing and the performance of the offices of the local government during the preceding three months. (4) A local government shall maintain records in the prescribed manner with the special emphasis on electronic record keeping. 114. Municipal entities.— (1) A local government other than a Union Council, with the approval of the Government, may establish an authority, agency or company answerable to the local government for the performance of municipal functions. (2) A local government, other than a Union Council may, with the approval of the Government and in coordination with any other local government, establish an authority, agency or a company for an area covering more than one local government. (3) An entity established under this section shall be subject to such control as may be prescribed. 115. Local government servants.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the Government shall, in the prescribed manner, create a service cadre for a local government or a group of local governments. (2) The Government may prescribe the terms and conditions for recruitment, promotion, dismissal, disciplinary, conduct and any other related service matter for the service cadre mentioned in sub-section (1). (3) A local government other than a Union Council may, in the prescribed manner, absorb an employee, already working in any other municipal body/local government prior to the commencement of this Act, with the consent of the employee against an equivalent pay scale. 116. Appeals.— A person aggrieved by any order passed by a local government or its functionaries may prefer an appeal to such authority, in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed and an order passed in appeal shall be final. 117. Power to make rules.– (1) The Government may, subject to previous publication and by notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for all or any of the matters specified in Part-I of Eighth Schedule. (3) The rules made under subsection (1) shall meet the following considerations: (a) consistency with democratic decentralisation; (b) enhancement of welfare of the people; (c) fairness and clarity; and 35 (d) natural justice and due process of law. 118. Bye-laws.— (1) A local government may, and if required by the Government shall, make bye-laws not inconsistent with this Act and the rules to give effect to the provisions of this Act. (2) The bye-laws made by a local government shall come into force from the date the bye-laws are published in the official Gazette or on the website specified by the Government. (3) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the byelaws may provide for all or any of the matters specified in Part-II of Eighth Schedule. 119. Delegation of powers.— (1) The Government may, subject to such conditions as may be specified, delegate any of its functions under this Act to an officer subordinate to it except the power to make rules, to suspend or remove a Mayor or Chairman or to dissolve the local governments. (2) Subject to the rules, a local government may delegate any of its powers, including financial powers under this Act or rules or bye-laws to the Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor or Vice Chairman or any of its members or officers as it may deem fit, except the powers to make bye-laws and to pass annual or revised budget. 120. Action taken in good faith.— No suit, prosecution, or other legal proceedings shall lie against any public servant serving in a local government for anything done in good faith under this Act. 121. General powers of local governments.— Notwithstanding any specific provision of this Act, a local government shall perform its functions conferred by or under this Act and exercise such powers and follow such procedures as are enumerated in Ninth Schedule. 122. Members and servants of local governments to be public servants.— Every member and every servant of a local government, and every other person duly empowered to act on behalf of a local government, shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860). 123. Bar against employment.— The Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Vice Chairman or a member of a local government shall not be employed under such local government for a period of one year from the date on which he ceases to be the Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Vice Chairman or member. CHAPTER XV TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 124. Interim authorities.— (1) On coming into force of this Act, any office, authority or a local government established under the Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 1979 or the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 or the Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 shall continue discharging functions and providing services without any interruption until a local government is established under this Act for the local area. 36 (2) All functionaries of a local government established under the Federal Capital Local Government Ordinance, 1979 or the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 or the Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 shall continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities with the successor local government under this Act, until transferred to any other local government. (3) The Government may re-organize the authorities, agencies and bodies of the local governments established under the Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 1979 or the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 or the Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 and decentralize such authorities, agencies and bodies to the local governments established under this Act. 125. Interim maintenance of institutions.— Where on the enforcement of this Act in any area, any service undertaken or institution maintained by the Government is required under any of the provisions of this Act to be compulsorily undertaken or maintained by a local government, such service or institution shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, continue to be undertaken or maintained by the Government until the management thereof is transferred to the local government. 126. Financial transition.— (1) All taxes, cesses, fees, rates, rents, tolls or charges which were being charged, levied and collected by any office of a local government or any authority shall continue to be charged, levied and collected under this Act by the successor local government or the authority and every person liable to pay such a tax, cess, fee, rate, rent, toll, charge or any arrear of the tax, cess, fee, rate, rent, toll or charge shall continue to make the payment until such tax, cess, fee, rate, rent, toll or charge is revised, withdrawn or varied under this Act. (2) Where any local government established under the Federal Capital Local Government Ordinance, 1979 (XIII of 2001) was receiving any grant or any compensation in lieu of Octroi or Zila tax, the successor local government under this Act shall continue to receive such grant or compensation. (3) Where a local government assumes the office under this Act for the first time: (a) the Government shall transfer grants to the local government on the basis of a formula notified by the Government; and (b) its budget for the financial year during which it assumes the office shall relate to the remaining period of that year and provisions regarding budget under this Act shall, as far as possible, apply to such a budget. (4) On allocation, re-allocation or transfer of the employees of the Government or any other body of any local government or any other organization established under the Federal Capital Local Government Ordinance, 1979 or the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960, the salaries, emoluments and pensions of such employees shall not be reduced on such allocation, re-allocation or transfer. (5) The Government shall ensure payment of salaries and other emoluments of the employees referred to in subsection (4) till such time as the Government may deem appropriate. 127. Succession.— (1) The Government or an officer designated by the Government shall, within one hundred and eighty days of the commencement of this Act, divide rights, assets and liabilities of the local governments or the Authority amongst the local governments and the Government or the Authority, and the decision of the Government or of the designated officer shall be final. (2) The Government shall bring all bye-laws, rules, regulations, notifications or any other legal instrument, issued under any law in force on the date of commencement of this Act, in conformity with 37 this Act within a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. (3) Except as provided by this Act, all existing bye-laws, rules, regulations, notifications or any other legal instrument shall, subject to this Act, continue in force, so far as applicable and with the necessary adaptations, until altered, repealed or amended by the Government. 128. Removal of doubts.— Where the Ordinance makes any provision for anything to be done but has not made any provision or any sufficient provision, as to the authority by whom, or the manner in which it shall be done, then it shall be done by such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed. 129. Repeal and saving.– (1) The Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 1979 (XXXIX of 1979), the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 2002 (CXVII of 2002), the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Elections Ordinance, 2002 (LVII of 2002) and Section 15-A of the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 (XXIII of 1960) are hereby repealed. (2) Save as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, nothing in this Act shall affect or be deemed to affect anything done, action taken, investigation or proceedings commenced, order, rule, regulation, bye- laws appointment, conveyance, mortgage, deed, document or agreement made, tax or fee levied, resolution passed, direction given, proceedings taken or instrument executed or issued, under or in pursuance of the Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance, 1979 and Section 15-A of the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 and any such thing, action, investigation, proceedings, order, rule, regulation, bye-laws, appointment, conveyance, mortgage, deed, document, agreement, tax, fee, resolution, direction, proceedings or instrument shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act, continue to be in force, and have effect as if it were respectively done, taken, commenced, made, directed, passed, given, executed or issued under this Act. 130. Removal of difficulty.— (1)The Government may, within two years of the commencement of this Act, by order consistent with this Act, provide for the removal of any difficulty which may arise in giving effect to the provisions of this Act. (2) Any question or doubt as to the interpretation of any provision of this Act or of any order made thereunder shall be resolved by a decision of the President and such decision shall be final. 131. Amendment of Schedules.—(1) The Government may, by notification, amend any of the Schedules. (2) The Government, may by notification, assign any of the functions of the Union Council or the Metropolitan Corporation, specified in the Second and Third Schedules respectively, to any statutory body or public or private company. FIRST SCHEDULE [see sections 69 & 72] DANGEROUS AND OFFENSIVE ARTICLES AND TRADES 1. The business of storing or selling timber, firewood, coal, charcoal and coke, hay straw grass and bamboo, jute, shrub, hemp munj and their products, matches, explosives, petrol, oil and lubricants, paper, ghee and other dangerously inflammable materials. 2. Sugar refining and sugar refineries. 38 3. Preparation of aerated water. 4. Operating or running bake houses. 5. Electroplating. 6. Welding. 7. Storing, packing, pressing, cleaning, preparing or manufacturing by any process whatever blasting powder, ammunition, fireworks, gun powder, sulpher, mercury, gases, gun cotton, saltpeter, nitro-compounds, nitro-mixtures, phosphercus or dynamite. 8. Cleaning, dying, preparing or manufacturing by any process whatever clothes or yarn in indigo and other colours. 9. Storing, processing, cleanings, crushing, melting, preparing or manufacturing by any process whatever or dealing in bones, tallow, offal, fat blood, soap, raw hides and skins candles, manure, catgut and oil cloth. 10. Manufacturing oils. 11. Washing or drying wool or hair. 12. Making or manufacturing bricks, “surkhi”, tiles, or earthenware pots clay pipes or other earthenware by any process of baking or burning. 13. Burning or grinding of limestone or metal stone or storing of lime for sale. 14. Cleaning or grinding of grain or chilies by any kind or class or machinery. 15. Keeping animals likely to create nuisance. 16. Fell mongering. 17. Casting of heavy metals such as iron, lead copper and brass. 18. Dealing in poison, acid, chemicals, liquid or otherwise. 19. Whole-sale storing cleaning pounding and selling of tobacco except the storing of tobacco required for the preparation of biddis, cigars or cigarettes. 20. Operating or running tin factories. 21. Manufacture of safes, trunks and boxes. 22. Marble cutting and polishing. 23. Glass leveling and polishing. 24. Manufacture of cement and hume pipes. 25. Storing, packing, pressing, cleaning, preparing or manufacturing by any process whatever, rags, pitch, tar, turpentine, demmar, coconut, fibre, flax, hemp, rosin or spirit. 26. Tanning, pressing or packing hides or skins whether raw or dry. 27. Trade or operation of a Ferries. 28. Working of power-looms, rice husking plants, steam whistle, steam trumpet or electric or hand operated sirens beyond hours fixed for their operation by a Local government. 29. Discharging fire-arms and letting off fire-works. Fire-balloons or detonators, or any game dangerous to life, dwelling and other property. 30. Trading, storing and selling used or new tyres likely to cause dengue epidemic. 31. Manufacturing, keeping, storing or selling wire thread or any other material meant for kite flying or likely to cause to human life or electric installations or disruption of electric supply. 32. Any other article or trade declared by Government to be dangerous for life, health or property or likely to cause nuisance. 39 SECOND SCHEDULE [see Section 70] FUNCTIONS OF UNION COUNCIL (a) improve and maintain public ways, public streets and public open spaces; (b) arrange lighting of public ways, public streets and public places; (c) mobilize the community: (i) for maintenance of public ways, public streets, culverts, bridges, public buildings and local drains; (ii) for plantation of trees, landscaping and beautification of public places in the Union Council; (iii) for prevention and removal of encroachments on public ways, streets and places; (d) maintain rural water supply schemes and public sources of drinking water, including wells, water pumps, tanks, ponds and other works for the supply of water and open drains; (e) coordinate with the community organizations for proper maintenance of rural water supply schemes and sewerage in the prescribed manner; (f) establish cattle pounds; (g) manage and maintain grazing areas, common meeting places and other common property; (h) hold fairs and recreational activities; (i) provide conservancy services in the Union Council; (j) arrange for registration of births, deaths, marriages and divorces and pass on such information about births, deaths, marriages and divorces in the Union Council to such persons and institutions as may be prescribed; (k) support a public sector agency to establish public facilitation centre in the Union Council for such purpose and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; (l) support relief measures in the event of any fire, flood, hailstorm, earthquake, epidemic or other natural calamity and assisting relevant authorities in relief activities; (m) promote local sports; (n) provide for libraries and reading rooms; (o) take other measures likely to promote the welfare, health, safety, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of the Union Council; (p) identify deficiencies in delivery of services and making recommendations for improvement of services to the Metropolitan Corporation; (q) execute development works in the prescribed manner; and (r) maintain such statistics and data as may be prescribed and disseminate information on matters of public interest. THIRD SCHEDULE [see Section 72] FUNCTIONS OF METROPOLITAN CORPORATION (a) implement rules and bye-laws governing public utilities; (b) approve development schemes for beautification of urban areas; (c) enforce all municipal laws, rules and bye-laws governing its functioning; (d) develop integrated system of water reservoirs, water sources, treatment plants, drainage, liquid and solid waste disposal, sanitation and other municipal services; (e) assist in provision of relief in the event of any fire, flood, hailstorm, earthquake, epidemic or other natural calamity and assist relevant authorities in relief activities; 40 (f) execute and manage development plans; (g) provide relief for the widows, orphans, poor, persons in distress and children and persons with disabilities; (h) promote technological parks, cottage, small and medium size enterprises; (i) prevent and remove encroachments; (j) regulate affixing of sign-boards and advertisements except where this function is being performed by the Capital Development Authority; (k) provide, manage, operate, maintain and improve the municipal infrastructure and services, including - (i) water supply and control and development of water sources; (ii) sewage and sewage treatment and disposal; (iii) storm water drainage; (iv) sanitation and solid waste collection and sanitary disposal of solid, liquid, industrial and hospital wastes, treatment and disposal including landfill site and recycling plants; (v) roads and streets; (vi) street lighting; (vii) playgrounds, open spaces, graveyards and arboriculture; and (viii) slaughter houses; (l) prepare financial statements and present them for internal and external audit in the manner as may be prescribed; (m) urban renewal programmes; (n) develop and maintain museums, art galleries, libraries, community and cultural centers; (o) conserve historical and cultural assets; (p) undertake landscape, monuments and municipal ornamentation; (q) maintain regional markets and commercial centers; (r) maintain a comprehensive data base and information system and provide public access to it on nominal charges; (s) regulate dangerous and offensive articles and trades mentioned in First Schedule; (t) collect approved taxes, fees, rates, rents, tolls, charges, fines and penalties; (u) organize sports, cultural, recreational events, fairs and shows, cattle fairs and cattle markets and regulate sale of animals; (v) regulate markets and services and issue licenses, permits, grant permissions and impose penalties for violation thereof as and where applicable; (w) manage properties, assets and funds vested in the local government; (x) develop and manage schemes; (y) authorize an officer or officers to issue notice to a person committing any municipal offence and initiate legal proceedings for continuance of commission of such offence or for failure to comply with the directions contained in such notice; (z) prosecute, sue and follow up criminal, civil and recovery proceedings against violators of municipal laws in the courts of competent jurisdiction in Islamabad Capital Territory; (aa) maintain municipal records and archives; and (bb) perform such other functions as may be prescribed 41 FOURTH SCHEDULE [see section 87] LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXATION Part-I Taxes and other levies by Union Councils (1) Entertainment tax on dramatical and theatrical shows. (2) Fees for registration and certification of births and marriages. (3) Fee on the services provided by the union council. (4) Rate for the execution or maintenance of any work of public utility like lighting of public places, drainage, conservancy and water supply operated by union council. (5) Community tax for the construction of public work of general utility for the inhabitants of the union. (6) Fee for licensing of professions and vocations as prescribed. (7) Any other tax or levy authorised by the Government. Part-II Taxes and other levies by Metropolitan Corporation (1) Water rate. (2) Drainage rate. (3) Conservancy rate. (4) Fee for approval of building plans, erection and re-erection of buildings. (5) Fee for change of land use of a land or building as prescribed. (6) Fee for licenses, sanctions and permits. (7) Fee on the slaughter of animals. (8) Tax on professions, trade, callings and employment. (9) Market fees. (10) Tax on sale of animals in cattle markets. (11) Toll tax on roads, bridges and ferries maintained by the Metropolitan Corporation. (12) Fee at fairs and industrial exhibitions. (13) Fee for specific services rendered by the Metropolitan Corporation.s (14) Tax for the construction or maintenance of any work of public utility. (15) Parking fee. (16) Water conservancy charge from the owner or occupier of a house or any other building, except an educational institution having a swimming pool with a minimum surface area of 250 square feet. (17) Tax on installation of Base Transceiver Station/Tower. (18) Any other tax or levy authorized by the Government. 42 FIFTH SCHEDULE [see section 104] OFFENCES REQUIRING TRIAL BY A COURT PART-I S.No Offence 1. Discharging any dangerous chemical, inflammable, hazardous or offensive article in any drain, or sewer, public water course or public land vested in or managed, maintained or controlled by the local government in such manner as causes or is likely to cause danger to persons passing by or living or working in neighbourhood, or risk or injury to property. 2. Failure of industrial or commercial concerns to provide adequate and safe disposal of affluent or prevention of their mixing up with the water supply or sewerage system. 3. Adulteration of any eatable or drinkable or consumable item sold or supplied to the public. 4. Manufacturing, trading, storing or supplying any eatable or drinkable item and other items unsafe for human consumption or public health. PART-II S.No. Offence 5. Overcharging or illegally charging any tax, fee, fine, charge or rate by an employee of a local government or a contractor or his staff without the authority of a local government. 6. Preparing or using counterfeit or proscribed Forms of the local government. 7. Wilfully obstructing any officer or servant of a local government or any person authorized to exercise power conferred under this Act. 8. Failure to deliver back possession of property to the local government on cancellation and expiration of lease. 9. Doing an act without license or permission when the doing of such act requires a license or permission under any of the provisions of this Act or the rules or byelaws. 10. Evasion of payment of tax or other impost lawfully levied by a local government. 11. Supplying or marketing drinking water for human consumption in any form, from any source which is contaminated or suspected to be dangerous to public health, or its use has been prohibited by a local government on the ground of being unsafe for human consumption, or whose quality and suitability for human consumption has not been ascertained and certified by a laboratory authorized by the Government. 12. Cultivation of agriculture produce or crop, for supply or sale to public using such manure, or irrigating it with sewer water or any such liquid as may be injurious to public health or offensive to the neighbourhood. 13. Dyeing or tanning skins within such distance of any commercial or residential areas as may be specified by the local government. 14. Manufacturing, storing, trading or carrying fire crackers, fire balloons or detonators or any dangerous chemical, inflammable, hazardous or offensive article or material without license from concerned authority. 15. Immovable encroachment in or on or under any property or any open space or land vested in or managed, maintained or controlled by a local government. 43 16. Erection or re-erection of building over set back area or parking area or building line area required to be left open under the rules for using such space for any purpose which is not approved. 17. Manufacturing, keeping, storing or selling wire thread or any other material meant for kite flying or likely to cause threat to human life or electric installations or disruption of electric supply. 18. Failure to demolish or otherwise secure a building declared by the local government to be dangerous building. 19. Establishing any parking stand on any property or on any open space and public park or land vested in or managed, maintained or controlled by a local government on or under a street, road, graveyard or a drain without the sanction of the concerned local government. 20. Quarrying, blasting, cutting timber or carrying building operations in such manner as causes or is likely to cause danger to persons passing by or living or working in the neighbourhood. 21. Contravention of the prohibition or attempt or abetment of any of the offences in this Part . PART-III S.No. Offence 22. Preparation and sale of article or articles of food or drink by a person apparently suffering from any infectious or contagious disease that may endanger the health of people. 23. Establishing any cattle market without permission of the local government. 24. Establishing any bus, wagon, taxi or other commercial motorized or non-motorized vehicle stand, for purposes of plying them on different routes, on any road, street, footpath, public place or any other property vested or managed or controlled or maintained by a local government without its permission. 25. Establishing or running any restaurant or vending stalls for eatables on any road, street, footpath, public place, over a drain, or any other property vesting in or managed or controlled or maintained by a local government without its permission. 26. Establishing a brick kiln and lime kiln within such distance of a residential area as may be specified by the local government. 27. Cutting down of any tree, or erection or demolition of any building or part of a building where such action is declared under this Act to be a cause of danger or annoyance to the public. 28. Contravention of the prohibition or attempt or abetment of any of the offences in this Part. 44 SIXTH SCHEDULE [see sections 104 & 106] OFFENCES WHERE TICKET CAN BE ISSUED S.No. Offence Amount of Fine 1. Neglect in safe storage of eatable, drinkable and other consumable items sold or supplied to the public. Rs.1,000 and Rs.6,000 in case of large restaurants, hotels and shops. 2. a. Fixing of wooden khokhas, and temporary shops or extension thereof on footpaths or beyond the street line. b. Plying of handcarts for the sale of goods without permission. Rs.2,000 Rs.400 3. Failure by the owner or occupier of any land to clear away and remove any vegetation declared by a local government to be injurious to health or offensive to neighbourhoods. Rs.1,000 4. Slaughtering of animals for the sale of meat at a place other than the place set apart for the purpose. Rs.1,000 5. Without the permission of the local government, causing or knowingly or negligently allowing the contents of any sink, sewer or cesspool or any other offensive matter to flow, or drain or to be put upon any street, or public place, or into irrigation channel or any sewer or drain not set apart for the purpose. Rs.4,000 in case of commercial concerns and Rs.1,000 for others. 6. Keeping or maintaining any cattle in any part of the prohibited zone or failure to remove the cattle from the prohibited zone within the specified time when an order to this effect has been made. Rs.1,000 7. Keeping ferocious dogs or other animals in residential areas or taking such animals to public places or the areas specified by the local government, without leash or chain and without being muzzled or to set at large any animal or dog infected with rabies or any other infectious disease. Rs.400 8. Obstructing or tampering with any road, street, drain or pavement. Rs.2,000 9. Obstructing or tampering with any main pipe, meter or any apparatus or appliance for the supply of water or sewerage system. Rs.2,000 10. Without the previous sanction of the local government: laying out a drain or altering any drain in a street or road; connecting any house drain with a drain in a public street; and drawing off, diverting or taking any water except with the permission required under this Act. Rs.2,000 11. Digging of public land without the permission in writing of local government. Rs.2,000 12. Burying or burning a dead body at a place which is not a public or registered burial or burning place, except with the sanction of the local government. Rs.2,000 13. Failure to furnish, on requisition, information in respect of any matter which a local government is authorized to call for under any of the provisions of this Act, rules or bye-laws or furnishing wrong information. Rs.600 45 14. Obstructing lawful seizure of animals liable to be impounded on the ground of violations of rules or by-laws governing the picketing, tethering, keeping, milching or slaughter of animals or their trespass of private or public property. Rs.1,000 15. Picketing, parking animals or collecting carts or vehicles on any street, using any street as a halting place for vehicle or animals or as a place encampment without the permission of the local government. Rs.1,000 16. Causing or permitting animals to stray or keeping, tethering, stalling, feeding or gazing any cattle on any road, street or thoroughfare or in any public place or damaging or causing or permitting to be damaged any road, street or thoroughfare by allowing cattle to move thereon. Rs.1,000 17. Disposal of carcasses of animals within prohibited distance. Rs.1,000 18. Failure to dispose of offal, fat or any organ or part of a dead animal in a place set apart for the purpose by the local government. Rs.1,000 19. Throwing or placing any refuse, litter or garbage on any street, or in any place, not provided or appointed for the purpose by a local government. Rs.1,000 20. Failure to provide for disposal of litter or garbage inside or outside a shop by its owner or occupier. Rs.1,000 21. Failure to maintain clean premises of the area in front of a shop, office or factory up to the public street or road serving this facility. Rs.2,000 22. Watering cattle or animals, or bathing or washing at or near a well or other source of drinking water for the public. Rs.1,000 23. Steeping hemp, jute or any other plant in or near a pond or any other excavation within such distance of the residential area as may be specified by a local government. Rs.2,000 24. Failure to provide, close, remove, alter, repair, clean, disinfect or put in proper order any latrine, urinal drain, cesspool or other receptacle for filth, sullage, water or refuse by an owner or occupier of a house, shop, office, industry or premises. Rs.4,000 for commercial/ industrial concerns and Rs.1,000 for a residential house 25. Failure to clean the premises, houses, shops and cultivated lands of the plastic bags and other non-perishable materials. Rs.1,000 26. Damaging or polluting physical environment, inside or outside private or public premises, in a manner to endanger public health. Rs.4,000 for public premises and Rs.1,000 for private premises 27. Failure by the owner or occupier of any land to cut or trim the hedges growing thereon which overhang any well, tank or other source from which water is derived for public use. Rs.1,000 28. Failure by the owner or occupier of any land or building to clean, repair, cover, fill up or drain off any private well, tank or other source of water supply, which is declared under this Act to be injurious to health or offensive to the neighbourhood. Rs.2,000 46 29. Failure to stop leakages of water pipes, faucets and sanitary fittings resulting in dirty water pools affecting physical environments and breeding of mosquitoes. Rs.2,000 30. Failure of an owner or occupier of any building or land to put up and keep in good condition troughs and pipes for receiving or carrying water or sullage water. Rs.2,000 31. Feeding or allowing to be fed an animal meant for dairy or meat purposes, on deleterious substance, filth or refuse of any kind which is dangerous to health of consumers. Rs.2,000 32. Defacing or disturbing, without due authorization, any direction-post, lamp post or lamp extinguishing or any light arranged by a local government. Rs.2,000 33. Fixing any bill, notice, play card, poster or other paper or means of advertisement against or upon any private or public building or place other than the places fixed for the purpose by a local government. Rs.2,000 34. Exhibiting any obscene advertisement. Rs.2,000 35. Loud playing of music or radio, beating of drum or tom-tom, blowing a horn or beating or sounding any brass or other instruments or utensils in contravention of any general or special prohibition issued by a local government or in and around a hospital or an educational institution. Rs.2,000 36. Loud shouting in abusive language causing distress to the inhabitants of a neighbourhood or village or any other public place. Rs.2,000 37. Using or allowing the use for human habitation of a building declared by a local government to be unfit for human habitation. Rs.2,000 38. Failure to lime-wash or repair a building, if so required by local government. Rs.2,000 39. Begging importunately for alms by exposing any deformity or disease or any offensive sore or wound to solicit charity. Rs.1,000 40. Causing or permitting to be caused by any owner or keeper of an animal which, through neglect or otherwise, damages any land or crop or produce of land, or any public road. Rs.2,000 41. Selling cattle and animals in contravention of any law, rule or by-laws of a local government. Rs.2,000 42. Kite flying in contravention of any general or specific prohibition issued by local governments. Rs.600 43. Keeping pigeon or other birds in a manner causing danger to air traffic. Rs.1,000 44. Contravention of any prohibition or direction of the local government issued under this Act or the rules. Rs.1,000 45. Attempt or abetment of any of the offence in this Schedule. Same as for the offence specified in the Schedule 47 SEVENTH SCHEDULE [see section 104(d)] Name & Address of the Offender: ______________ NIC No. _____________ Particulars of Offence:(Section of Law with details of offences: ___________________ _________________ Date of commission of Offence: Amount of Fine: Rs. ________________ (in letters) Date by which the Fine is to be paid ________________ (Note: The amount of fine shall be deposited in Bank) Corrective actions ordered:____________ ______________ Name of the Court having jurisdiction: ___________________ _____________ Signature or Thumb Impression of the Offender: ___________________ _______________ Signatures of Inspector/ Seal ___________________ _______________ Copy-1 (To be retained by Inspector) Name & Address of the Offender: ______________ NIC No. _____________ Particulars of Offence:(Section of Law with details of offences: ___________________ _________________ Date of commission of Offence: Amount of Fine: Rs. _________________ (in letters) Date by which the Fine is to be paid _________________ (Note: The amount of fine shall be deposited in Bank) Corrective actions ordered:____________ _______________ Name of the Court having jurisdiction: ___________________ _______________ Signature or Thumb Impression of the Offender: ___________________ _______________ Signatures of Inspector/ Seal ___________________ _______________ Copy-2 (To be retained by Offender on payment of fine) Name & Address of the Offender: ______________ NIC No. _____________ Particulars of Offence:(Section of Law with details of offences: ___________________ _________________ Date of commission of Offence: Amount of Fine: Rs. _________________ (in letters) Date by which the Fine is to be paid _________________ (Note: The amount of fine shall be deposited in Bank) Corrective actions ordered:____________ _______________ Name of the Court having jurisdiction: ___________________ _______________ Signature or Thumb Impression of the Offender: ___________________ _______________ Signatures of Inspector/ Seal ___________________ _______________ Copy-3 (To be returned to Inspector by offender after payment within ten days) Name & Address of the Offender: ______________ NIC No. ______________ Particulars of Offence:(Section of Law with details of offences: ___________________ _________________ Date of commission of Offence: Amount of Fine: Rs. _________________ (in letters) Date by which the Fine is to be paid _________________ (Note: The amount of fine shall be deposited in Bank) Corrective actions ordered:____________ _______________ Name of the Court having jurisdiction: ___________________ _______________ Signature or Thumb Impression of the Offender: ___________________ _________________ Signatures of Inspector/ Seal ___________________ _________________ Copy-4 (To be sent by the Bank to the local Accounts Officer) 48 EIGHTH SCHEDULE [see sections 116 & 117] Part - I (Rules) 1. Local Government (Conduct of Elections). 2. Local Government (Conduct of Business). 3. Local Government (Taxation). 4. Local Government (Property). 5. Local Government (Auction). 6. Local Government (Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces). 7. Local Government (Servants). 8. Local Government (Budget). 9. Local Government (Accounts). 10. Local Government (Contracts). 11. Local Government (Works). 12. Local Government (Conduct of Inspections). 13. Local Government (Conduct of elected officials). 14. Local Government (Fiscal Transfers). 15. Local Government (Delegation of Financial Powers). 16. Any other set of rules necessary for the implementation of this Act. Part–II (Bye-laws) 1. Conduct of meetings. 2. Fixing of wooden khokhas, plying of handcarts for the sale of goods, and temporary or permanent shops or extensions thereof on footpaths or beyond the street line. 3. Watering cattle or animals, or bathing or washing at, or, near a well or other source of drinking water for the public. 4. Registration and regulation of institutions for orphans, widows, senior citizens, mentally ill, and women in distress. 5. Regulation of burial and cremation places. 6. Slaughter of animals and maintenance of slaughterhouses. 7. Prevention of adulteration of foodstuffs. 8. Animal husbandry and milk supply. 9. Prevention and abatement of nuisances. 10. Dangerous and offensive trades and articles. 11. Regulation of parking. 12. Organization and regulation of fairs, shows, tournaments and other public gatherings. 13. Prevention of beggary, juvenile delinquency and other social evils. 14. Licensing. 15. Markets. 16. Libraries. 17. Parks and open places. 18. Prevention of air, water, noise, and soil pollution. 19. Plantation. 20. Picketing, parking animals or collecting carts or vehicles on any street. 21. Throwing or placing any refuse on any street, or in any place not provided or appointed for the purpose. 49 22. Dyeing or tanning animal skins. 23. Tampering with any main, pipe, or any apparatus or appliance for the supply of water. 24. Excavation of earth, stone or any other material. 25. Disposing of carcasses of animals. 26. Use of sewer water for farming. 27. Flow or drain to be put upon any street, or public place, or into an irrigation channel or any sewer or drain not set apart for the purpose. 28. Fixing any bill, notice, placard, or other paper or means of advertisement against or upon any building or place other than the places fixed for the purpose by the local government. 29. Such other matters as in the opinion of a local government are necessary or expedient to be provided for in the bye-laws to achieve the objectives of this Act. NINTH SCHEDULE [see section 120] GENERAL POWERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Animals 1. Prohibition of picketing or tethering in streets.- No animal shall be picketed or tethered in such streets or places as may be specified by the local government and any animal found picketed or tethered in any such street or place shall be liable to seizure and impounding. 2. Prohibition against keeping and maintaining cattle.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or any agreement, instrument, custom or usage or decree, judgment or order of any court or other authority, the local government may declare any part of its local area as a prohibited zone. (2) At any time after a declaration under sub-paragraph (1) has been made, the local government may, by general or special notice, prohibit the keeping and maintaining of the cattle by any person in the prohibited zone. (3) No person shall, after the expiry of the period fixed under sub-paragraph (2), keep or maintain cattle in any part of the prohibited zone: Provided that the prohibition shall not apply to - (i) cattle kept bona fide for sacrificial purposes; (ii) cattle kept for drawing carts or use in mills, with the permission of the local government and subject to such conditions as it may impose; (iii)cattle under treatment in any veterinary hospital; (iv) cattle brought to a cattle market demarcated by the local government for purposes of sale; and (v) cattle brought to a slaughterhouse or kept by butchers for purposes of slaughter within the area demarcated by the local government. (4) Persons affected by the prohibition order under sub-paragraph (2) to meet their genuine needs may be allowed to keep and maintain their cattle at the places earmarked as “cattle colonies” by the local government on such terms and conditions as it may impose. 3. Dangerous animals.- A local government may, by bye-laws, define the animals which shall be deemed to be dangerous animals and the circumstances under which animals not otherwise dangerous shall be deemed to be dangerous and such bye-laws, among other matters, may 50 provide for the detention, destruction or disposal otherwise of such animals. 4. Disposal of carcasses.- Whenever an animal in the charge of a person dies, otherwise than by being slaughtered for sale or consumption or for some other religious purpose such person shall either - (a) convey the carcasses within twenty-four hours to a place, if any, fixed by the local government for the disposal of the dead bodies of animals; or (b) give notice of the death to the local government whereupon the local government shall cause the carcass to be disposed of and charge such fees from the person concerned as the bye-laws may provide. 5. Animal husbandry.- (1) A local government may provide for the establishment, maintenance and management of veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and by bye-laws regulate their working and fix the fees to be charged for treatment in such hospitals and dispensaries. (2) A local government may, by bye-laws, define contagious diseases among animals and provide for measures that shall be adopted for prevention of the spread of such diseases including the compulsory inoculation of animals, and the subjection to such treatment as may be necessary of such animals as may be suspected to have been infected with carriers of any such disease. (3) A local government may, through bye-laws, provide means and measures to prevent cruelty to animals. 6. Animal farms.- A local government may establish, maintain and manage cattle farms and poultry farms, and such farms shall be managed and administered in such manner as the byelaws may provide. 7. Registration of the sale of cattle.- A local government may, by bye-laws, require that sale of such animals as may be specified shall be registered with the local government in such manner and subject to the payment of such fees as the bye-laws may provide. 8. Cattle shows, zoo, etc.- (1) A local government may hold cattle shows, cattle fairs and cattle markets within the limits of its local area and charge such fee or tax per cattle head sold as the bye-laws may provide. (2) A local government may, with the previous approval of the Government, maintain or contribute towards the maintenance of zoological gardens. 9. Registration and control of dogs.- (1) A local government may make bye-laws to provide for the registration of all dogs kept in such area or areas within its local area as may be specified. (2) Such bye-laws shall - (a) require the registration, by the local government, of all dogs kept within the area or areas specified or any part thereof. (b) require that every registered dog shall wear a collar to which shall be attached a metal token to be issued by the registration authority of the local government and fix the fee payable for the issue thereof; (c) require that any dog which has not been registered or which is not wearing such token shall, if found in any public place, be detained at a place set apart for the purpose; and (d) fix the fee which shall be charged for such detention and provide that any such dog shall be liable to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of unless it is claimed and the fee in respect thereof is paid within one week, and may provide for such other matters as the local government thinks fit. (3) A local government may– (a) cause to be destroyed or confined for such period as it may direct, any dog or other animal which is, or is reasonably suspected to be, suffering from rabies, or which has been bitten by any 51 dog or other animal suffering or suspected to be suffering from rabies; (b) by public notice direct that, after such date as may be specified in the notice, dogs which are without collars or without marks distinguishing them as private property and are found straying on the streets or beyond the enclosures of the houses of their owners if any may be destroyed, and cause them to be destroyed accordingly; (c) require the owner or person in-charge of any dog - (i) to restrain it so that it is not set at large in any street without being muzzled, leashed or chained; and (ii) to provide immediate information, if the dog belonging to him has been bitten by any animal suffering or reasonably suspected to be suffering from rabies or any other infectious disease. (4) No damages shall be payable in respect of any dog or other animal destroyed or otherwise disposed of under this paragraph. 10. Power to seize.- (1) A cultivator, tenant, occupier, vendee or mortgagee of any land or crop or produce or any part thereof or any person who has advanced cash for the cultivation of crop may seize or cause to be seized any animal trespassing on such land and doing damage thereto, or any crop or produce thereon, to send them or cause them to be sent within twenty-four hours to a pound established under this Act. (2) Persons in charge of public roads, pleasure grounds, plantations, canals, drainage works, embankments and the like, and the officers of police, may seize or cause to be seized animals doing damage thereto, and shall send them or cause them to be sent, within twenty-four hours of the seizure, to the nearest animal pound. 11. Pounds.- A local government may establish such number of animal pounds as may be necessary and may fix, from time to time, the location of the animal pounds, the rate of feeding, watering and accommodating the impounded animals. 12. Pound keepers.- A local government may appoint pound-keepers on whole-time or part-time basis on such terms and conditions as may be fixed. 13. Registers and returns.- (1) A pound-keeper shall keep such registers and furnish such returns as may be required by the local government. (2) When animals are brought to the pounds, the pound-keeper shall enter in the register the number and description of animals, the day and hour on which they were so brought, the name and residence of the seizurer and that of the owner, if known, and shall give the seizurer or his agent a copy of such entry. 14. Possession and feeding.- The pound-keeper shall take charge of, feed and water the animals until they are disposed of as hereinafter provided. 15. Fines for impounded animals.- For every animal impounded under this Act, the poundkeeper shall levy a fine in accordance with the scale fixed by the local government and the fines so charged shall form part of and be credited to the local fund. 16. Delivery or sale of animals.- (1) If the owner of an impounded animal or his agent appears and claims the animal, the pound-keeper shall deliver it to him on payment of the fine and charges incurred in respect of such animal under proper receipt to be recorded by the owner or his agent in the register. (2) If the animal is not claimed within seven days of impounding, the pound-keepers shall inform the officer in charge of the Police Station who shall thereupon display at a conspicuous place in his office a notice stating the number and description of animals and places of seizure and impounding. A similar notice shall be displayed at a conspicuous place in the office of the local government. (3) If the animal is not claimed within seven days of the notice it shall be sold by the local government by open auction after giving sufficient publicity in the local area: 52 Provided that the person auctioning the animals or the pound-keeper or his relatives shall not bid for or purchase the impounded animals. (4) The proceeds of the sale of the animal shall be paid to the owner if he appears within six months of the sale, after deduction of fines, feeding and other charges. Arboriculture 17. Arboriculture.- A local government shall plant trees on public streets and other public places within its local area and take all such steps as may be necessary for the plantation and protection of trees on such streets and places. 18. Nuisance pertaining to trees and plantations.- (1) A local government may, by bye-laws, determine the pests of trees and plants and provide for their destruction. (2) If any land or premises within the local area of the local government is grown with rank or noxious vegetation, or under-growth, the local government may by notice require the owner or the occupier of such land or premises to clear such vegetation or under-growth within a specified time and if he fails to do so within such time, the local government may have such vegetation or under-growth cleared and the cost incurred shall be deemed to be a tax levied on the owner or occupier under this Act. (3) A local government may, in the manner provided in the bye-laws, prohibit the cultivation of any crop which is considered dangerous to public health within such part of its local area as may be specified. Boundaries and Trees 19. Boundary walls, hedges and fences.- (1) No boundary wall, hedge or fence of any material or description shall be erected in such parts of a local area as are specified by a local government without the permission in writing of the local government. (2) A local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner or lessee of any land in its local area - (a) to remove from the land any boundary wall, hedge or fence which is, in its opinion unsuitable, unsightly or otherwise objectionable; or (b) to construct on the land sufficient boundary walls, hedges or fences of such material, description or dimensions as may be specified in the notice; or (c) to maintain the boundary walls, hedges or fences of such lands in good order. Provided that, in the case of any such boundary wall, hedge or fence which was erected with the consent or under the orders of the local government or which was in existence at the commencement of this Act, the local government shall make compensation for any damage caused by the removal thereof. (3) A local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee or occupier of any such land to cut or trim any hedge on the land in such manner and within such time as may be specified in the notice. 20. Felling, lopping and trimming of trees.- (1) Where, in the opinion of the local government the felling of any tree of mature growth standing in a private enclosure in its local area is necessary for any reason, the local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee or occupier of the land to fell the tree within such time as may be specified in the notice. (2) A local government may – (a) cause to be lopped or trimmed any tree standing on land in its local area which belongs to the local government; or (b) by public notice require all owners, lessees or occupiers of land in its local area or by notice in writing require the owner, lessee or occupier of any such land, to lop or trim, in such manner as may be specified in the notice, all or any trees standing on such land or to remove any dead 53 trees from such land. Burial Places/Graveyards and Cremation 21. Power to call for information regarding burial and burning grounds.- (1) The local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner or person in charge of any burial or burning ground within its area to supply such information as may be specified in the notice. (2) No place which has not been used as a burial or burning ground before the commencement of this Act shall be so used without the permission in writing of the local government. (3) No new burial or burning place shall be established within the local area of a local government except under a licence granted by the local government and in conformity with the conditions of such licence. (4) A burial or burning place which is not administered by a local government shall be registered with the local government and shall be subject to regulation, supervision and inspection by it in such manner as the bye-laws may provide. (5) The Government may, by notification, declare that any graveyard or burial or burning place which is open to public for burial or burning shall vest in a local government and thereupon such burial or burning place shall vest in the local government and it shall take all measures necessary for the proper maintenance and administration thereof. (6) A local government may provide suitable places for the graveyard or burial or burning of the dead, and shall take necessary measures for proper maintenance and administration of such burial and burning places. (7) (a) Where a local government after making or causing to be made a local inquiry, is of opinion that any burial or burning ground in its local area has become offensive, to, or dangerous to, the health of, persons living in the neighbourhood, it may, by notice in writing, require the owner or person in charge of such ground to close the same from such date as may be specified in the notice. (b) Where such notice is issued, the local government may provide at its own expense or, if the community concerned is willing to provide a new burial or burning ground, shall provide a grant to be made towards the cost of the same. (8) No corpse shall be buried or burnt in any burial or burning ground in respect of which a notice issued under this paragraph is for the time being in force. Culture 22. Culture.- A local government may - (a) establish and maintain information centres for the furtherance of civic education and dissemination of information on such matters as community development and other matters of public interest; (b) provide and maintain public halls and community centres; (c) celebrate national occasions; (d) encourage national and regional languages; (e) promote physical culture and encourage public games and sports and organize rallies and tournaments. (f) provide, promote or subsidise facilities for the recreation of the public. 23. Libraries.- A local government may establish and maintain such libraries, reading rooms and circulation libraries as may be necessary for the use of the public. 24. Fairs and shows.- A local government may make such arrangements on the occasion of any fairs, shows or public festivals within its local area as may be necessary for the public health, public safety and public convenience, and may levy fees on the persons attending such fairs, 54 shows and festivals. Dangerous and Offensive Articles and Trades 25. Dangerous and offensive articles and trades.- (1) The articles and trades specified in First Schedule shall be deemed to be dangerous or offensive for purposes of this paragraph. (2) Except under and in conformity with the conditions of a licence granted by the local government - (a) no person shall carry on any dangerous or offensive trade; (b) no premises shall be used or offered to be used for any dangerous or offensive trade; and (c) no person shall store or keep in any premises - (i) any dangerous or offensive articles for domestic use; or (ii) any dangerous or offensive articles in excess of such limit and quantity as may be fixed by the bye-laws. (3) Notwithstanding the grant of a licence under sub-paragraph (2), the local government may, for reasons to be recorded, and after notice to the person affected, pass an order for the prohibition, closure or removal of any offensive and dangerous trade or article if such action is deemed expedient or necessary to implement the order. Drainage and Sewerage 26. Drainage.- (1) A local government shall provide an adequate system of public drains in its local area and all such drains shall be constructed, maintained, kept cleared and emptied with due regard to the health and convenience of the public. (2) Every owner or occupier of any land or building within the local area of the local government may, with its previous permission, and subject to such terms and conditions, including the payment of fees, as it may impose, cause his drains to be emptied into public drains. (3) All private drains shall be subject to control, regulation and inspection by the local government. (4) Subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, the local government may, by notice, direct a commercial or industrial concern to provide for the disposal of its waste or effluent in the manner specified, and failure on the part of owner, tenant or occupier thereof to comply with such directions, shall be a municipal offence. (5) A local government may, by notice, require the owner of any building, land or an industrial concern within its local area - (a) to construct such drains within the building or land or the street adjoining such building or land and to take such other measures for treatment and disposal of effluent as may be specified in the notice; (b) to remove, alter or improve any such drains; and (c) to take other steps for the effective drainage of the building or land as may be specified. (6) In case of failure of owner to comply with the requirements of notice under sub-paragraph (5), the local government may itself cause such requirements to be carried out, and the cost so incurred shall be deemed to be a tax levied on the owner of the building or land under this Act. 27. Drainage and sewerage schemes for commercial and industrial area.- (1) A local government may, by notice, require the owners, tenants and occupiers of commercial and industrial concerns in any area or areas within its local area to have at their own cost prepared a 55 scheme for the adequate and safe drainage and disposal of their wastes and effluent of the quality permitted under the rule or the bye-laws and submit it to the local government within the time specified in the notice: Provided that the time limit may be extended by the local government for a maximum period of three months at the request of the owners, tenants or occupiers of the commercial and the industrial units concerned. (2) The drainage, sewerage and disposal scheme as approved by the local government with modifications, if any, shall be executed and implemented by the owners, tenants or occupiers of the commercial or industrial units at their expense in such manner and within such time as may be specified by the local government. (3) In case of the failure of the owners, tenants or occupiers of the commercial or industrial concerns to comply with the provisions of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), the local government may itself prepare the drainage, sewerage and disposal scheme and execute and implement it at its own expense, and the cost so incurred shall, under this Act, be deemed to be a tax levied on the owners, tenants or occupiers of the industrial and commercial units concerned. Food and Markets 28. Public markets and slaughter-houses.- (1) A local government may provide and maintain within its own local area, public markets and public slaughter-houses, in such number as it thinks fit, together with stalls, shops, sheds, pens and other buildings or conveniences for the use of persons carrying on trade or business in or frequenting such markets or slaughter-houses, and may provide and maintain in any such market buildings, places, machines, weights, scales and measures for the weighment or measurement of goods sold therein. (2) A local government may, at any time by public notice, either close or relocate any public market or public slaughterhouse or any part thereof. 29. Use of public markets.- (1) An officer or servant of the local government authorized by it in this behalf may summarily remove a person from a market if the person conducting business in the market without the general or special permission of the local government. (2) Any person contravening the provisions of this paragraph and any animal or article exposed for sale by such person may be summarily removed from the market by or under orders of the local government by an officer or servant of the local government authorized by it in this behalf. 30. Levy of stallages, rents and fees.- A local government may, in respect of a public market and a public slaughter house: (a) charge such stallages, rents and fees as it thinks fit for the occupation or use of any stall, shop standing, shed or pen in a public market, or public slaughter-house, or for the right to expose goods for sale in a public market, or for weighing or measuring goods sold therein, or for the right to bring in goods on vehicles or animals, or for animals brought for sale or sold, or for the right to slaughter animals in any public slaughter-house; or (b) put up to public auctions or dispose of by private sale, the privilege of occupying or using any stall, shops, standing, shed or pen in a public market or public slaughter house for such term and on such conditions as it may approve. 31. Stallages, rents, etc. to be published.- A copy of the table of stallages, rents and fees, if any, leviable in any public market or public slaughter-house and of the bye-laws made under this Act for the purpose of regulating the use of such market or slaughter-house, printed in Urdu and in such other language or languages as the local government may direct, shall be affixed in some conspicuous place in the market or slaughter-house. 32. Private markets and slaughter-houses.- (1) No place in a local area other than a public market shall be used as a market, and no place in a local area other than a public slaughter-house 56 shall be used as a slaughter-house, unless such place has been licensed as a market or slaughterhouse by the local government. (2) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) shall be deemed to restrict the slaughter of any animal in any place on the occasion of any festival or ceremony, subject to such conditions as to prior or subsequent notice as the local government with the previous sanction of the local government may, by public or special notice, impose in this behalf. 33. Conditions of grant of licence for private market or slaughter-house.- (1) A local government may charge such fees as may be approved for the grant of a licnece to any person to open a private market or private slaughter-house and may grant such licence subject to such conditions, consistent with this Act and any bye-laws, as it thinks fit to impose. (2) A local government may refuse to grant any such licence for reasons to be recorded. 34. Prohibition of keeping market or slaughter-house open without licence, etc.- (1) No person shall keep open for public use any market or slaughter-house in respect of which the licence has either been suspended or cancelled. (2) When a licence to open a private market or private slaughter-house is granted or refused or is suspended or cancelled, the local government shall cause a notice of the grant, refusal, suspension or cancellation to be pasted in Urdu and in such other language or languages as it thinks necessary, at some conspicuous place nearby the entrance of the place to which the notice relates. 35. Prohibition of using unlicensed market or slaughter-houses.- No person, knowing that any market or slaughter-house has been opened to the public without a licence having been obtained therefor when such licence is required by or under this Act, or that the licence granted therefor is for the time being suspended or that it has been cancelled, sell or expose for sale any article in such market, or slaughters any animal in such slaughter-house. 36. Prohibition and restriction of use of slaughter-houses.- (1) Where, in the opinion of the local government it is necessary on sanitary grounds so to do, it may, by public notice, prohibit for such period, not exceeding one month as may be specified in the notice, or for such further period, not exceeding one month, as it may specify by like notice, the use of any private slaughter-house specified in the notice, or the slaughter therein of any animal of any description so specified. (2) A copy of every notice issued under sub-paragraph (1) shall be conspicuously posted in the slaughter-house to which it relates. 37. Power to inspect slaughter-house.- (1) Any servant of a local government authorized by order in writing in this behalf by the local government may, if he has reason to believe that any animal has been, is being, or is about to be slaughtered in any place in contravention of the provisions of this Act enter into and inspect any such place at any time, whether by day or by night. (2) Every such order shall specify the place to be entered and the locality in which the same is situated and the period, which shall not exceed seven days, for which the order is to remain in force. 38. Power to make bye-laws.- A local government may make bye-laws consistent with this Act to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:- (a) the days on, and the hours during, which any private market or private slaughterhouse may be kept open for use; (b) the regulation of the design, ventilation and drainage of such markets and slaughterhouses and the material to be used in the construction thereof; (c) the keeping of such markets and slaughter-houses and lands and buildings appertaining thereto in a clean and sanitary condition, the removal of filth and refuse therefrom, and the 57 supply therein of pure water and of a sufficient number of latrines and urinals for the use of persons using or frequenting the same; (d) the manner in which animals shall be stalled at a slaughter-house; (e) the manner in which animals may be slaughtered; (f) the disposal or destruction of animals offered for slaughter which are, from disease or any other cause, unfit for human consumption; (g) the destruction of carcasses which from disease or any other cause are found after slaughter to be unfit for human consumption; and (h) any other matter which the local government may consider necessary including any specific exemptions from the application of the bye-laws 39. Bye-laws for articles of food and drink.- A local government may, by bye-laws - (a) prohibit the manufacture, sale or preparation or the exposure for sale of any specified articles of food or drink in any place or premises not licensed by the local government; (b) prohibit the import into its local area for sale or hawking for sale, of any specified article of food or drink by person not so licensed; (c) prohibit the hawkings of specified articles of food and drink in such parts of its local area as may be specified; (d) regulate the time and manner of transport within its local area of any specified articles of food or drink; (e) regulate the grant and withdrawal of a licence under this paragraph and the levying of fees therefor; or (f) provide for the seizure and disposal of any animal, poultry or fish intended for food which is diseased, or any article of food or drink which is noxious. 40. Milk supply.- (1) Except under a licence granted by the local government and in conformity with the conditions of such licence, no person shall, unless exempted by the local government, keep milch cattle for the sale of milk or sell milk or expose or import milk for sale or manufacture butter, ghee, or any other milk for sale or dairy product, nor shall any premises be used for such purpose. (2) A local government may, in the manner prescribed, frame and enforce a milk supply scheme which may among other matters provide for the establishment of milkmen‟s colonies, the prohibition of the keeping of milch cattle in the local area or any part thereof, and the adoption of such other measures as may be necessary for ensuring an adequate supply of pure milk to the public. 41. Feeding animals on dirt, etc.- No person shall feed or allow to be fed on filthy or deleterious substances any animal, which is kept for purposes of supplying milk to, or which is intended to be used for human consumption or allow it to graze in any place in which grazing has, for sanitary reasons, been prohibited by public notice by the local government. 42. Powers of entry and seizure.- (1) An officer or servant of a local government authorized by it in writing in this behalf - (a) may at any time enter into any market, building, shop, stall or other place in the local area for the purpose of inspecting, and may inspect, any animal, article or thing intended for human food or drink or for medicine, whether exposed or hawked about for sale or deposited in or brought to any place for the purpose of sale, or of preparation for sale, or any utensil or vessel for preparing, manufacturing or containing any such article, or thing, and may enter into and inspect any place used as a slaughter-house and may examine any animal or article therein; (b) may seize any such animal, article or thing which appears to him to be diseased, or unwholesome or unfit for human food or drink or medicine or to be adulterated or to be not what 58 it is represented to be, or any such utensil or vessel which is of such a kind or in such a sate as to render any article prepared, manufactured or contained therein unwholesome or unfit for human food or for medicine. (2) Any article seized under sub-paragraph (1) which is of a perishable nature may forthwith be destroyed if, in his opinion, it is diseased, unwholesome or unfit for human food, drink or medicine. (3) Every animal, article, utensil, vessel or other thing seized under sub-paragraph (1) shall, if it is not destroyed under sub- paragraph (2), be taken before a competent court which shall give orders as to its disposal. Explanation-I.- If any such article, having been exposed or stored in, or brought to, any place mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) for sale as asli (pure) ghee, contains any substance not exclusively derived from milk, it shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, to be an article which is not what it is represented to be. Explanation-II.- Meat subjected to the process of blowing shall be deemed to be unfit for human food. Explanation-III.- The article of food or drink shall not be deemed to be other than what it is represented to be merely by reason of the fact that there has been added to it some substance not injurious to health: Provided that - (a) such substance has been added to the article because the same is required for the preparation or production thereof as an article of commerce in a state fit for carriage or consumption and not fraudulently to increase the bulk, weight or measure of the food or drink or conceal the inferior quality thereof, or (b) in the process of production, preparation or conveyance of such article of food or drink, the extraneous substance has unavoidably become intermixed therewith, or (c) the owner or person in possession of the article has given sufficient notice by means of a label distinctly and legibly written or printed thereon or therewith, or by other means of a public description, that such substance has been added, or (d) such owner or person has purchased that article with a written warranty that it was of a certain nature, substance and quality and had no reason to believe that it was not of such nature, substance and quality, and has exposed it or hawked it about or brought it for sale in the same state and by the same description as that in and by which he purchased it. Licencing: General Provisions 43. Power to vary licence.- If a local government is satisfied that any place used under a licence granted by it under this Act is a nuisance or is likely to be dangerous to life, health or property, the local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner, lessee or occupier thereof to discontinue the use of such place or to effect such alterations, additions, or improvements as will, in the opinion of the local government, render it no longer a nuisance or dangerous. 44. Carrying on trade, etc., without licence or in contravention of paragraph.- No person shall carry on any trade, calling or occupation for which a licence is required without obtaining a licence therefor or while the licence therefor is suspended or after the same has been cancelled, or after receiving a notice under paragraph 65, use or allow to be used any building or place in contravention thereof. 45. Gardens.- (1) A local government may lay-out and maintain within its local area such public gardens as may be necessary for the recreation and convenience of the public and such public gardens shall be maintained and administered in such manner as the bye-laws, may provide. 59 (2) For every public garden there shall be framed and enforced, in the manner prescribed, a garden development plan, which shall provide for the development and improvement of the garden. 46. Open spaces.- A local government may provide and maintain within its local area such open spaces as may be necessary for the convenience of the public and such spaces shall be grassed, hedged, planted and equipped with such amenities and in such manner as the bye-laws may provide. Development planning 47. Community Development Projects.- A local government may sponsor or promote community development projects for its local area or any part thereof and may, in this behalf, subject to the approval of Government, perform such functions as may be necessary. 48. Approval of Development Plan.- The Development Plan of a local government shall be sanctioned in its meeting. 49. Development Plans to be included in the Budget.- As far as may be, the schemes included in the Development Plan shall be included in the budget. Public Health and Sanitation 50. Insanitary buildings and lands.- (1) A local government may, by notice, require the owners or occupier of any building or land which is in insanitary or unwholesome state- (a) to clean or otherwise put in it in a proper state; (b) to make arrangements to the satisfaction of the local government for its proper sanitation; and (c) to lime wash the building and to make such essential repairs as may be specified in the notice. (2) If in the opinion of a local government any well, tank, reservoir, pool, depression, or excavation, or any bank or tree, is in a ruinous state or for want of sufficient repairs, protection or enclosure is a nuisance or is dangerous to persons passing by or dwelling or working in the neighbourhood, the local government may, by notice in writing, require the owner or part-owner or person claiming to be the owner or part-owner thereof, or, failing any of them, the occupier thereof to remove the same, or may require him to repair, or to protect or enclose the same in such manner as it thinks necessary; and, if the danger is, in the opinion of the local government imminent, it shall forthwith take such steps as it thinks necessary to avert the same. 51. Removal, collection and disposal of refuse.-(1) A local government shall make adequate arrangements for the removal of refuse from all public roads and streets, public latrines, urinals, drains and all buildings and lands vested in the local government and for the collection and proper disposal of such refuse. (2) The occupiers of all other buildings and lands within the local area of a local government shall be responsible for the removal of refuse from such buildings and land subject to the general control and supervision of the local government where relevant. (3) A local government shall cause public dustbins or other suitable receptacles to be provided at suitable places and where such dustbins or receptacles are provided, the local government may, by public notice, require that all refuse accumulating in any premises or land shall be deposited by the owner or occupier of such premises or land in such dustbins or receptacles. (4) All refuse removed and collected by the staff of a local government or under their control 60 and supervision and all refuse deposited in the dustbins and other receptacles provided by the local government shall be property of the local government. (5) A local government may, by notice, issue directions with regard to the manner in which and the conditions subject to which, any matter referred to in this paragraph may be carried out. 52. Latrines and urinals.- (1) A local government shall provide and maintain in sufficient number and in proper situations public latrines and urinals for the separate use of each sex, and shall cause the same to be kept in proper order and to be regularly and properly cleaned. (2) A local government may, by notice in writing - (a) require any person having the control whether as owner, lessee or occupier of any land or building: (i) to close any cesspool appertaining to the land or building which is, in the opinion of the local government a nuisance, or (ii) to keep in a clean condition, in such manner as may be prescribed by the notice, any receptacle or filth or sewage accumulating on the land or in the building, or (iii) to prevent the water of any private latrine, urinal, sink or bath-room or any other offensive matter, from soaking, draining or flowing, or being put, from the land or building upon any street or other public place or into any water-course or other specified water-body or into any drain not intended for the purpose; or (iv) to collect and deposit for removal by the conservancy establishment of the local government within such time and in such receptacle or place, situated at not more than thirty five meters from the nearest boundary of the premises, as may be specified in the notice, any offensive matter or rubbish which such person has allowed to accumulate or remain under, in or on such building or land; or (b) require any person to desist from making or altering any drain leading into a public drain; or (c) require any person having the control of a drain to cleanse, purify, repair or alter the same, or otherwise put it in good order, within such time as may be specified in the notice. (3) Where any premises are without privy or urinal accommodation, or without adequate privy or urinal accommodation, or the privy or urinal is on any ground objectionable, the local government may, by notice, require the owner or occupier of such premises - (a) to provide such or such additional privy or urinal accommodation as may be specified in the notice; (b) to make such structural or other alteration in the existing privy or urinal accommodation as may be so specified; (c) to remove the privy or urinal; and (d) to substitute connected privy or connected urinal accommodation for any service privy or service-urinal accommodation where there is any underground sewerage system. (4) In case the owner or occupier of any building or land who has been served notice under subparagraph (3), fails to make arrangements to the satisfaction of the local authority for the matter referred to in this paragraph, the local government may make such arrangements and the cost so incurred shall be deemed to be a tax levied under this Act on the owner or occupier. 53. Private latrines.- A local government may, by notice in writing - (a) require the owner or other person having the control of any private latrine or urinal not to put the same to public use; or (b) where any plan for the construction of private latrines or urinals has been approved by the local government and copies thereof may be obtained free of charge on application: (i) require any person repairing or constructing any private latrine or urinal not to allow the same to be used until it has been inspected by or under the direction of the local government and 61 approved by it as conforming with such plan; or (ii) require any person having control of any private latrine or urinal to re-build or alter the same in accordance with such plan; or (c) require the owner or other person having the control of any such private latrine or urinal which, in the opinion of the local government constitutes a nuisance, to remove the latrine or urinal; or (d) require any person having the control whether as owner, lessee or occupier of any land or building: (i) to have any latrines provided for the same covered by a sufficient roof and wall or fence from the view of persons passing by or dwelling in the neighbourhood, or (ii) to keep such latrine or urinal in proper state to the satisfaction of the local government and shall employ such staff for the purpose as may be necessary or as may be specified by the local government; and (e) require any person being the owner and having the control of any drain to provide, within ten days from the service of the notice, such covering as may be specified in the notice. 54. Infectious diseases.- (1) A local government shall adopt measures to prevent infectious diseases and to restrain infection within its local area. (2) A local government shall establish and maintain one or more hospitals for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from infectious diseases. 55. Bathing and washing places.- (1) A local government may from time to time - (a) set apart suitable places for use by the public for bathing; (b) specify the time at which and the sex of persons by whom such places may be used; and (c) prohibit by public notice, the use by the public for any of the said purposes of any place not so set apart. (2) No person shall establish, maintain or run a hamam or a bath for public use except under a licence granted by the local government and in conformity with the conditions and terms of such licence. Public Safety 56. Floods.- For fighting of floods, rescuing of people from the flood-affected areas and affording relief to flood-stricken people, the local government shall provide such boats, appliances and equipment as may be specified by Government. Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces 57. Birth, deaths etc.- A local government shall register all births, deaths, marriages and divorces within the limits of its local area and information of such births, deaths, marriages and divorces shall be given by such persons or authorities and shall be registered in such manner as the bye-laws may provide. Social Welfare and Community Development 58. Social welfare.- A local government may - (a) establish, manage and maintain welfare homes, asylums, orphanages, widow homes and other institutions for the relief of the distressed; (b) provide for the burial or cremation of unidentified dead bodies within its local area at its own expense; 62 (c) adopt such measures as may be specified by the Government for the prevention of beggary, prostitution, gambling, taking of injurious drugs and consumption of alcoholic liquor, juvenile delinquency and other social evils; (d) organize social service volunteers; and (e) adopt such measures as may be prescribed for the promotion of the welfare of backward classes, families of the persons serving in the armed forces, women and children. Streets and Streets Lighting 59. Public streets.- (1) A local government shall provide and maintain such public streets and other means of public communications as may be necessary. (2) A local government shall, in the manner prescribed, prepare and execute a road maintenance and development programme. 60. Streets.-(1) No new street shall be laid out except with the previous sanction of the local government and in conformity with the terms and conditions of such sanction. (2) All streets other than public streets shall be maintained in such manner as the bye-laws may provide. (3) A local government may, by notice, require that any street may be paved, metalled, drained, channeled, approved or lighted in such manner as may be specified and in the event of default, the local government may have the necessary work done through its agency and the cost so incurred shall be deemed to be a tax levied on the person concerned under this Act. (4) Government may prescribe the manner in which a street other than a public street may be converted into a public street. (5) A local government shall not name or rename a road or a street or a chowk or an underpass or a flyover/interchange without the previous approval of the Government. 61. Street lighting and electrification.- (1) A local government shall take such measures as may be necessary for the proper lighting of the public streets and other public places vested in the local government by oil, gas, electricity or such other illuminant as the local government may determine. (2) A local government shall also provide or cause to be provided electricity in coordination with the concerned department to its local area for public and private purposes. (3) A local government may frame and enforce street lighting and electrification schemes. 62. Street watering.- A local government shall take such measures as may be necessary for the watering of public streets for the comfort and convenience of the public, and may, for this purpose, maintain such vehicles, staff and other apparatus as may be necessary. Trades and Occupations 63. Provision of washing places.- (1) A local government may provide suitable places for the exercise by washermen of their calling, and may require payment of such fees as may be prescribed by the local government. (2) Where the local government has provided such places as aforesaid it may, by public notice, prohibit the washing of clothes by washermen at any other place within that part of the local area: Provided that such prohibition shall not be deemed to apply to the washing by a washerman of his own clothes or of the clothes of any other person who is an occupier of the place at which they are washed. 64. Licences required for carrying on of certain occupation.- (1) No person of any of the following classes, namely:- 63 (a) butchers and vendors of poultry, game or fish; (b) persons keeping milch cattle or milch goats for profit; (c) persons keeping for profit any animal other than milch cattle or milch goats; (d) dairymen, buttermen and makers and vendors of ghee; (e) vendors of fruit or vegetables; (f) manufacturers of ice or ice-cream and vendors of the same; (g) vendors of articles of food or drink for human consumption (other than milk, butter, bread, biscuits, cake, fruit, vegetables, aerated or other potable water or ice or ice-cream) which are of a perishable nature; (h) vendors of water to be used for drinking purposes; (i) washermen; (j) persons carrying on any trade or occupation from which offensive or unwholesome smells arise; (k) vendors of wheat, rice and other grain or flour; (l) makers and vendors of sweetmeats; (m) barbers and keepers of shaving saloons; and (n) any other trades and occupations specified in the bye-laws, or through public notice by local government from time to time - shall carry on his trade, calling or occupation in such part of a local area as may be designated by the local government unless he has applied for and obtained a licence in this behalf from the local government. (2) A licence granted under sub-paragraph (1) shall be valid until the end of the year in which it is issued and the grant of such licence shall not be withheld by the local government unless it has reason to believe that the business which it is intended to establish or maintain would be offensive or dangerous to the public. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-paragraph (1) - (a) no person who was, at the commencement of this Act carrying on his trade, calling or occupation in any part of a local area shall be bound to apply for a licence for carrying on such trade or occupation in that part until he has received from the local government not less than three months‟ notice in writing of his obligation to do so, and if the local government refuses to grant him a licence, it shall pay compensation for any loss incurred by reason of such refusal; and (b) no person shall be required to take a licence for the sale or storage of petroleum or for the sale or possession of poisons or white arsenic in any case in which he is required to take a licence or such sale, storage or possession under any Federal or any other existing law. (4) A local government may charge fees for the grant of licences under this paragraph. 65. Conditions which may be attached to licences.- A licence granted to any person under paragraph 89 shall specify the part of the local area in which the licensee may carry on his trade, calling or occupation, and may regulate the hours and manner of transport within the local area of any specified articles intended for human consumption and may contain any other conditions which the local government thinks fit to impose in accordance with the bye-laws made under this Act. Public Vehicles and Parking 66. A local government may provide for parking motors on such public places as may be determined by it. 67. Public vehicle.- (1) No person shall keep or let for hire or drive or propel, within the limits of the local area of the local government, any public vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, except 64 under a licence granted by the local government and in conformity with the conditions of such licence. (2) No horse or other animal shall be used for drawing a public vehicle within the local area of the local government except under the licence granted by the local government and in conformity with the conditions of such licence. (3) A local government shall, in such manner as the bye-laws may provide and with the previous approval of Government, fix the rate of fares for the use of public vehicles and no person plying a public vehicle shall charge a rate in excess thereof. (4) In this paragraph, a “public vehicle” means any vehicle which ordinarily plies for hire. 68. Public ferries.- (1) A local government may, by bye-laws, provide for the licensing of boats and other vessels plying for hire in a public watercourse and may specify the terms and conditions for the grant of licences and the fees to be charged therefor. (2) Government may declare any part of the public watercourse to be a public ferry and may entrust the management thereof to the local government which shall manage and operate the public ferry in such manner and levy such toll as may be necessary. Water Supply 69. Water supply.- (1) A local government shall provide or cause to be provided to its local area a supply of wholesome water sufficient for public and private purposes. (2) Where a piped water supply is provided, the local government shall supply water to private and public premises in such manner and on payment of such charges as the bye-laws may provide. 70. Private source of water supply.- (1) All private sources of water supply within the local area of the local government shall be subject to control, regulation and inspection by the local government. (2) No new well, water-pump or any other source of water for drinking purposes, shall be dug, constructed or provided except with the sanction of the local government. (3) A local government may, by notice, require the owner or any person having the control of any private source of water supply used for drinking purposes - (a) to keep the same in good order and to clean it from time to time of silt, refuse and decaying matter; (b) to protect the same from contamination in such manner as the local government directs; and (c) if the water therein is proved to the satisfaction of the local government to be unfit for drinking purposes, to take such measures as may be specified in the notice to prevent the use of such water for drinking purposes. 71. Public watercourses.- (1) A local government may, with the previous sanction of the Government, declare any source of water, river, spring, tank, pond or public stream, or any part thereof within its local area, which is not private property, to be a public watercourse. (2) A local government may, in respect of any public watercourse, provide such amenities, make such arrangements for lifesaving, execute such works and, subject to the provisions of any law for the time being in force relating to irrigation, drainage and navigation, regulate the use thereof in such manner as the bye-laws may provide. 72. Tanks, ponds and low-lying areas.- A local government may take such steps with regard to the excavation or re-excavation of tanks and ponds and the reclamation of low-lying areas as it thinks fit or the Government directs. 65 STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS After having practised the Local Government System introduced through the Federal Capital Local Govt. Ordinance 1979 till 1996 and lack of any local government system since then, there is a strong realization that urban and rural areas have been receiving disproportionate financial resources in disregard to the local needs of the particular areas. This inequitable allocation of resources has led to inefficiencies in local governance and effective delivery of services sought to be provided under the local governments and the Constitution. Furthermore, in this age of specialization, it is strongly felt that the delivery of municipal services both in urban and rural areas require targeted focus involving specialized expertise, skills and professionalism so as to identify the local needs of people with sharp precision and meet them in full adherence to the corresponding inviolable rights of the people guaranteed under the Constitution. 2. Hence, in pursuance of Articles 32 of the Constitution and in line with the manifesto of the government, new local government system is proposed to be established so that accountable individual local government is formed by empowering them to shoulder the political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority of the Government at local level through their elected representatives to ameliorate the sufferings and grievances of the general public.

CH. NISAR ALI KHAN
 Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control
 Minister In-charge