The local government administration (under the provincial Local Government and Rural Development Department) at district level is headed by an Assistant Director (AD). Under the AD come the Development Officers (DO) at each sub-division. Also serving under the AD is a civil engineer, as well as a number of clerical staff. There are Chief Officers (BPS 17) who are the executive officer at District Council or Municipal Committee level.

The local government administration functions in mutual co-operation with the chairman office of the District Council. See annex 4 for the functions of local government. The District Council funds are / were channelled through AD’s office. All local bodies’ officials at the district levels function under the Divisional Director (BPS 18-19).

The Union Council is the lowest tier of the Local government system. There are a total of 28 Union Council under the District Council. Each Union Council represents an average population of 12,000 to 17,000 people in the district. All members are elected, directly by the people or indirectly by the members, as is the case with the peasant and women representatives. The membership varies from 9 to 15. For details on Union Council, Municipal Committee, and District Council see annex 1.

There is one Town Committee in Shoubatpur. It has eight members. The town committee has played an important role in the distribution of a micro level democracy in the area and has generated its own funds.

There is one Municipal Committee in Usta Mohammad sub-division. It comprised 16 members. All but a few were directly elected, including two women representatives and one from each of the minority groups and from the farmers. The Municipal Committee played an important role until its funds were stopped in 1993. It has its separate office building with a Chief Officer from Local Government side.

The membership of the District Council of Jaffarabad was 33. At present there are 28 members, including the Chairman, elected by the members. There is one member each from the minority, the peasant and the worker community. There are two women representatives.

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