Local Administration Quetta

Local government in urban areas of district Quetta consists of the Municipal Corporation. It is headed by a Mayor and consists of 66 ward members. The size of Municipal Corporation depends on the number of people residing in that area. Their is one Administrator who represents the Government and assists the chairman and members in the day to day functioning.

S&GAD Block of Civil Secretariat Quetta.

In the rural areas of Quetta district, there are 8 Union Councils. They constitute a District Council, each union Council is represented by a member in the District Council. In addition there is special representation of 2 women, 1 peasant, 1 non-muslim and 1 worker. Thus District Council is composed of 13 members; the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Directors of various Departments are Ex-Officio members of this Council. The functions of local Government are given in annexure four.

The traditional decision making structure at village level used to make decisions under an Arbitration Council ( Jirga ), the members of which were normally nominated by the Political Agent. Among the members Mullah’s and tribal Malik’s were prominent.

The Jirga used to exercise semi judicial powers and their decisions were accepted due to their social status. The decision had to be endorsed by the Political Agent.

Local Government Administration Organogramme

Union Council

The Union Council is the basic unit of Local Government. There are 8 Union Councils in the district. Each Union Council serves a population ranging from 10 to 15 thousand persons. There are 2 women and 1 peasant seat in each Union Council, irrespective of the allocation of total seats, which varies from Council to Council. The Union Councils are supposed to perform development works. In the past their function was limited to the construction and improvement of drainage facilities and maintenance of roads in their area. At present they are not functioning as they were suspended by the provincial Government. However, all union Councils are financially depending on provincial Government. Every union Council is empowered to generate its own sources of revenue and spend it. Other functions of Union Councils include issuance of birth and death certificates. They also resolve conflicts among the villagers. They are autonomous and independent to make any decision within their jurisdiction. However, some of the financial expenditure decisions have to be formally endorsed by the District Council. Out of the 8 union councils, 4 are getting 2% of the octroi received by the Quetta Municipal Corporation. These 4 union councils are Kachi Baig, Shadazai, Kotwal and Baleli. The reason is that these Xouncils are situated on the main route leading to Quetta.

The major constraint for the councils is that they are neither able to generate their own resources nor get sufficient grants from the Government. Therefore, their role in development is negligible.

Town Committee

There is no Town Committee in district Quetta.

Municipal Committee

There is no Municipal Committee in Quetta district.

District Council

There is one District Council in district Quetta. There are 13 members of the Council, out of them 8 belong to the respective Union Councils, while special seats are allocated to: women (2) workers (1) peasant (1) and non-Muslims (1).

The District Council is represented by each Union Council and is concerned with rural development activities. Their major functions are:

•   Collection of Zila Tax.
•   Collection of real estate property tax.
•   To charge license fee on stone crushing plant and brick kilns.
•   To collect taxes from rural shopkeepers.

These taxes are spent on the non-development expenditure of the District Council and on improvement of shingle roads. Ever since the suspension of the elected District Councils, the Deputy Commissioner is its Administrator.

Municipal Corporation

Quetta Municipal Corporation is normally headed by a Mayor, who is elected by a Council comprising 66 elected member. Out of them 2 are non-Muslims, one is worker and 3 are women. However, at present the elected council does not exist as it was suspended by the Government of Balochistan. Now the Municipal Corporation is headed by an Administrator appointed by the government of Balochistan. He is assisted by a team comprising a Municipal Commissioner, Chief Officer, Magistrate, Engineer and Octroi and accounts officer. The 1980 Ordinance defines the functions as under:

1.  To regulate private drainage and disposal of waste
2.  To maintain slaughter house
3.  To register birth and death
4.  To prevent infectious decease
5.  To provide relief measures in the event of fire
6.  To regulate construction of Buildings.

 Optional functions of the Corporation include:

1.  Regulating washing places
2.  Maintaining public library
3.  Providing and maintaining street lights
4.  Maintaining the quality of food through regulations.

To meet the above functions, QMC derives its income from the following sources.

1.  Octroi: This is the biggest source of income, for the fiscal year 1996-97, income from this source is Rs.13,98,30,625/-.
2.  Fee on profession and trade: This includes license fee for trade, animals and profession. Income from this source for the year 1996-97 is Rs.30,65,100/-.
3.  Income from House Tax in the same year is Rs.51,00,000. Rent of Municipal property, fines, tax on immovable property are the other source, of income.

Quetta Municipal Corporation

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