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India and Pakistan today agreed to work jointly in the field of local self governance (Panchayati Raj) and exchange their experience in this important field with an object to give empowerment to rural and poor people of both countries. The decision emerged after The Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar’s meeting with Mr. Daniel Aziz, Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau, the apex body in charge of local governance and development in Pakistan, at Islamabad today.
The Minister, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan regarding Iran-India gas pipeline, called on Mr. Daniel just before he left for Karachi.
The two leaders also decided that work at different levels including the bilateral and multi-lateral level including SARRC. It was also decided that Pakistani National Reconstruction Bureau Chairman Daniel Aziz will visit New Delhi with 50 members of local self governance in next three months to understand the issues and problem of region.
Pakistan will soon submit a draft proposal to start frequent meetings of national-level representatives of local bodies, representatives and bureaucrats handling the local bodies’ departments.
Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, said that it was an area where India can learn from Pakistan— empowerment of local bodies including village pantheist and to have district level development cadre to run the development work.
Giving a further boost to the ongoing peace and trade talks, India and Pakistan have agreed to set up a formal exchange programme between the representatives of the local bodies to learn from each other’s experiences in running the local bodies at the bilateral and regional level.
AK/RKJ from Islamabad
VP/NSR
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