ISLAMABAD: Local governments need to look beyond traditional sources of revenue in order to ensure that residents in their areas get better services and facilities.

They should also ask local communities for advice, speakers concluded on the second day of a seminar on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through local governments.

The seminar titled `Think Globally, Act Locally, SDGs Implementation through Local Governments` was hosted by various non-government organisations in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program on Wednesday.

Executive Director National Association of Rural Municipality in Nepal, Bimal Pokharel, who has 17 years experience in local government, said Nepal has achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

`There is huge development in health, education, water supply and sanitation systems. The main reason is the decentralisation of the local government systemand local governments having taxing powers. Moreover, we have also started planning to achieve the SDGs and are considering our options for achieving them,` he said.

`There will be inter-governmental finances, more revenue will be generated throughlocalbodies and unancialinstitutions may also be contacted to get finances.

Currently, Kathmandu does not have parking fee, but a fee can be imposed in order to provide facilities to the poor. Another way is to give 15pc of royalties on government resources to local governments.

Students in urban areas may be charged a nominal amount to support schools in rural areas,` he said as he listed a number of ways local governments can raise money.

Punjab Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said the time has come to think why Pakistan could not achieve the MDGs.

`One of the reasons for not achieving the goals was the shortage of funds and we need to ensure that such mistakes are not repeated in the future. The mobilisation of communities will be instrumental in urging governments to address issues,` he said.

Deputy Secretary General Commonwealth Local Government System Lucy Slack also stressed that local bodies should generate theirresources byvarious means such as public-private partnerships.

National Rural Support Program CEO Dr Rashid Bajwa said local governments can doa lot to change their f ate.

Toba Tek Singh District Chairperson Fauzia Khalid said that when she became chairperson a few years ago, the budget of the district council was only Rs240 million which was not enough as only the construction of one road required Rs70 million.

`After that, we decided to generate revenue and initially issued notices to wedding halls they should get their maps approved and pay annual tax. After that, we learnt that only five of the 250 housing colonies were registered so we directed them to legalise themselves. In just one year, we had a budget of Rs850 million and this year, our budget will be Rs1.06 billion,` she said.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz said that sustainable development is a global goal and the government has been trying to achieve it with the support of local communities.

`Pakistan has even established a parliamentary committee for achieving the SDGs. Two months ago, the Economic Council approval national goals some of which will be achieved soon. The provinces also established special units to achieve the SDGs and 10 of the 17 goals such as clean drinking water, education and healthcan be achieved by local bodies, he said.

Prime Minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi also visited the conference in the evening and addressed the participants, but the media was not allowed to attend.