Pakistan, Jan. 21 -- The National Assembly on Tuesday echoed with calls for empowering local governments (LGs) as lawmakers stressed the need for reforms in the wake of the Gul Plaza fire.

Besides members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), PML-N's Khawaja Asif also favoured strengthening LGs for better city administration.

Speaking on the floor of the NA, MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar called for the "creation of more administrative units" for better governance and strengthening local government systems.

"Such a huge burden cannot be shouldered by a chief minister alone," he said. "These powers should instead be handed over to the mayor, town chairman, UC (union council) chairman".

He recalled that MQM-P had also advocat...