Nazim
Encyclopedia
A nazim (ˈnaːzɪm, , from the Arabic word for "organizer" or "convenor") (similar to mayor
) is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan
. Nazim is the title in Urdu
of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan
, such as a district
, tehsil
, union council, or village council.
The name which is used for the president of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
, the Islamic Union of Students in Pakistan, is Nazim-e-ala.
The nazim-e-ala is elected for one year, and after completing that tenure, all the members of IJT who are called (Arkaan) elect a new one.
The "chief nazim," or district nazim, is elected by the nazims of Union Councils, Union Councillors, and Tehsil Nazims, who themselves are elected directly by the votes of the local public.
Pakistan originally had a system inherited from the time of British rule, in which a Mayor
was the head of a district
. Under the Local Government Act
, however, the role of the nazim became distinct from that of a Mayor
, with more power. The nazim system was introduced after the commissionerate system, imposed during British rule, was lifted by the government of Pakistan. Now there is no commissioner
for any of the divisions, deputy commissioner for the district
s, or assistant commissioners, since the Local Government
act was imposed in the country in 2001. The one exception is Islamabad
, the federal capital, where the commissionerate system remains in effect.
In 2009, the new government restored the commissionerate system in the divisions but the nazims also remain in power.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
) is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Nazim is the title in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, such as a district
Districts of Pakistan
The Districts of Pakistan are the second order administrative divisions of Pakistan. Districts were the third order of administrative divisions, below provinces and "divisions", until the reforms of August 2000, when "divisions" were abolished...
, tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
, union council, or village council.
The name which is used for the president of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Islami Jamiat Talaba is the male wing of an organization of students influenced mainly by the works of Late Syed Abul-Ala Maodudi. Its mission is to preach Islam to students of modern institutions throughout Pakistan. It has been attempting to increase the Islamic ideals of decency and glorifying...
, the Islamic Union of Students in Pakistan, is Nazim-e-ala.
The nazim-e-ala is elected for one year, and after completing that tenure, all the members of IJT who are called (Arkaan) elect a new one.
The "chief nazim," or district nazim, is elected by the nazims of Union Councils, Union Councillors, and Tehsil Nazims, who themselves are elected directly by the votes of the local public.
Pakistan originally had a system inherited from the time of British rule, in which a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
was the head of a district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
. Under the Local Government Act
Local Government Act
Local Government Act is a stock short title used for legislation in Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, relating to local government....
, however, the role of the nazim became distinct from that of a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, with more power. The nazim system was introduced after the commissionerate system, imposed during British rule, was lifted by the government of Pakistan. Now there is no commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
for any of the divisions, deputy commissioner for the district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s, or assistant commissioners, since the Local Government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
act was imposed in the country in 2001. The one exception is Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, the federal capital, where the commissionerate system remains in effect.
In 2009, the new government restored the commissionerate system in the divisions but the nazims also remain in power.