By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has said that the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly should be included in the forthcoming 27th Constitutional Amendment to grant constitutional protection to local governments.
Read also: Punjab Assembly Speaker backs constitutional protection for local governments
This, he emphasized, would ensure genuine devolution of powers to the grassroots level and encourage broader public participation in governance.
He added that if the federal government faces financial pressure, a workable formula should be determined through consultation with the provinces. “Fifteen hundred public officers cannot run the governance system of 250 million people; therefore, strengthening the local government structure is inevitable,” he said.
The Speaker expressed these views while addressing the Inter-School Speech Competition 2025 organized by the Unique Group of Institutions in Lahore. Chairman Professor Abdul Manan, Vice Chairman Professor Afif Ashfaq, Professor Amjad Ali Khan, and Professor Waseem Anwar were also present.
Reflecting on the competition, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said it reminded him of his student days and highlighted his passion for public speaking. He praised the students’ speeches and noted that modern technology has made knowledge more accessible, allowing today’s students to verify information within seconds.
Speaking on education and merit, the Speaker observed that while merit is often discussed, the stark difference in resources and per-student expenditure between private and public schools hinders true meritocracy.
In response to journalists’ questions, he said that the proposed constitutional amendment should not compromise the independence of the judiciary.
On international affairs, he described the ongoing oppression in Palestine as a human tragedy, stressing that war is never a solution but defending principles becomes inevitable when nations’ rights are usurped.
Regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations, he said that sincere talks could lead to lasting peace, but in case of refusal to engage, the State reserves the right to defend itself.
