This presentation has discuss the importance of local government in democracy and good governance. The brief introduction of Local Government, Democracy and Good Governance are included with special focus on the importance of Local government.

1. Bilal Yousaf
Lecturer Political Science

2. Importance of Local Government in
Democracy and Good Governance
Contents
 Introduction
 Local Government
 Democracy &
 Governance/ Good governance
 Importance of Local Government in Democracy and Good
Governance.

3.  What is Local Government?
 What is Democracy?
 What do you know about Governance/Good
Governance?

4. Local Government
 The term ‘Local Government’ literally means management of
the local affairs by the people of the locality.
 It is based on the principle that the local problems and needs
can be looked by the people of the locality better than by
central or state/provincial governments.

5. For Instance
Tiers of LG In Pakistan
 District Government
 Tehsil Government
 Union Council/ Village Council

6. Democracy
 Democracy is a political system in which people rule the country.
 According to Abraham Lincoln, “democracy is the government of the
people, by the people, for the people.”
 Democracy in modern times considered as the best system of
government, because its reflects the wishes of the people.
 Indirect democracy refers to a system of government in which the people
control the government through elected political officials. The elected
representatives represent the people as opposed to the direct democracy
in which citizens enjoys an extraordinary amount of participation in the
legislation process and granting them a maximum of political self-
determination. E.g Ancient Athens.

8. Governance/Good Governance
 Governance is a process through which society is governed.
 Establishment of polices, and continuous monitoring of their proper
implementation by the members of governing.
 The Commission on Global Governance defines “governance is the sum of
many ways individuals and institutions, public and private manage their
common affairs.”

9. Activity
Write 3 to 4 goals on your copy which you
think are necessary for Good Governance?

11. Importance of Local Government in
Democracy and Good Governance
 The importance of local government lies in sustaining the democracy. If
democracy function properly as many citizen as possible should be
encouraged and provided with opportunities to take a continuing interest in its
activities and problems.
 The importance of local government are as follow:
1. SCHOOL OF DEMOCRACY
The success of national democracy largely depends upon the success of
democracy at the grass-root level.
Local government institutions ensure good governance at the grass-root level and
also play a vital role in the success of democracy.

12. 2. EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS OF LOCAL PROBLEMS
There are some problems which occur at the local level
and need to be solve locally in accordance with local needs,
environment and wishes of the people.
3. EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF
LOCAL AFFAIRS
Local Government being concerned generally with the
welfare of the people deals mainly with this, which contribute to
socio-economic development of the country and improve the
governance and strengthen democracy.

13. 4. TRAINING GROUND FOR EMERGING LEADERS
Local Government is also an invaluable training ground for emerging
leaders, who after acquiring experience in the art of politics and government at
the local level rise as such to the state and national level. They governed the
country in a better way at national Level.
5. REDUCE THE BURDEN OF WORK OF STATE/CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
If the central and provincial governments are over-loaded with work, it
becomes incompetent, incapable and inefficient to perform its duties which
creates bad governance in a country. So the local government not only
essential services to the people but also reduces the burden of central and
provincial governments.

14. QUOTE OF THE DAY
Where there is least or no public opinion, there
is likely to be bad government, which sooner or
later becomes autocratic government.
Thank You!