Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar took notice of the news about the burial of dead bodies in already filled graveyards of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and directed officials to immediately close all such graveyards for burial.
He also directed stern action against those grave diggers who were found violating this order by demolishing old graves for new burials, said a statement on Wednesday.
Following the directive of the mayor, burial in Azeempura Graveyard in Shah Faisal Colony and Colony Gate Graveyard was banned by the KMC, and Jamia Millia Graveyard was put forth as an alternative.
Likewise, Chakra Goth Graveyard was presented as an alternative to the closed Moula Bux Korangi No 6 Graveyard, Malir Cantt graveyard in lieu of the closed Model Colony graveyard, and the Mohammad Shah graveyard in lieu of the closed Paposh Nagar and Yaseenabad graveyards.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar submits an application on Thursday to be made a party in water commission hearing.
He said that funds worth millions are released for cleaning of water drainage system. To this, the water commission questioned, “Does the responsibility of cleaning drains belongs to KMC?”
Karachi mayor once again complained about not getting powers from provincial government of Sindh.
Water board MD claimed that over 300 cases have been filed against water thieves but no action has yet been taken. The commission asked whether any challan has been presented at any accused.
The MD of water board responded that no challan in any court has been presented. Moreover, the Police IG told that provisions of water theft are easy to bail which is why criminals are at loose.
The applicant advocate Shahab suggested that water commission should remain till five years. The PSP leader Hafeez ud Din claimed that there were no as such water issues during the time of Mustafa Kamal as mayor of Karachi.
On being asked to invite Mustafa Kamal, the commission responded that we gave a public notice so any citizen can come.
03-Feb-17
KARACHI: Mayor Waseeem Akhtar has informed the judicial commission on Thursday that there was a serious shortage of potable water in the city as the water distribution system has failed to deliver water to all the dwellers.
Akhtar had turned up before the commission of an inquiry into the state's failure to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and stated that construction of high-rises and multi-storey buildings has aggravated the problem of water shortage and poor sanitation.
He complained that no one was checking the illegal mushrooming of such buildings which were being raised without adopting the procedure and ensuring provision of water and sanitation facilities.
He pointed out that illegal water hydrants were being operated which was one of the main causes of shortage of water. Drainage system has also gone from bad to worse resultantly pungent water can be seen overflowing on the roads.
"Major water drains were encroached upon but no action has been being taken against encroachers."
He suggested that the civic departments providing municipal services should be working independently with any central command. "All these departments should be brought under the mayor's administrative control to bring about improvement."
Besides, the Sindh police and Karachi Water Sewerage Board (KWSB) shifted blame on each other for failing to combat the menace of illegal water hydrants.
The DIG and SSP West told the commission that illegal hydrants were running under the umbrella of KWSB. "Although the police is ready to take action against illegal hydrant operators but the water utility officials are reluctant to come forward and register an FIR against them."
The DIG stated that so far eight FIR's were registered in Jan 2017. He, however, maintained that the problem is more serious and deep-rooted.
Managing director of KWSB contradicted his statement saying, "We report to the police about illegal hydrants but they don't take any action."
The DIG East said that the police are taking strict action against illegal hydrants and in this connections three FIRs were registered in Jan 2017 in this regard.
KARACHI: The judicial commission directed on Thursday the Karachi mayor and commissioner to submit details of water and sewerage treatment plant encroached land in the city.
Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro of the Sindh High Court, headed the Supreme Court commission set-up to probe allegations of non-provision of potable water, deteriorating sanitation conditions and its impact on the environment in Sindh, also sought details of illegal water hydrants operating in the city under the umbrella of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB).
On Thursday, Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar filed a report claiming that there was a serious shortage of potable water in Karachi. He said that since the distribution framework of water was working poorly, water was not reaching the areas at the tail-end.
The mayor said that the construction of the high-rise and buildings had further aggravated problems.
He informed the commission that plans for constructing these buildings were being approved by the authorities without ensuring provision of water and sanitation facilities.
He also pointed out that the illegal water hydrants were still operating in the city, which was one of the main causes of the shortage of water. He said that sewerage system had also gone from bad to worse.
Akhtar claimed that the drains had also been encroached upon but no action was being taken. If any action was taken at all it was only against the poor, he added, citing the example of Habib University, which he claimed was built on encroached land of Nehr-e-Khayam.
He said that departments responsible for municipal services were working independent of each other and proposed that all such departments be given under central command to improve the situation, as then the mayor will be solely responsible.
At this juncture, the petitioner, Shahab Usto, pointed out that certain agreements were executed between the city district government and KWSB during the tenure of former city nazim Mustafa Kamal, as a result of which the land of the treatment plants were leased out illegally. The commission directed Akhtar to submit his reply on the matter. He undertook to submit his statement today.
Advocate Syed Hafeezuddin requested time to file a statement on the point that parallel to the KWSB another system, whereby water was being provided to the industries illegally, was also operating in the city under the umbrella of the KWSB.
To the commission’s query regarding operation of the illegal water hydrants, DIG West and SSP West informed that such illegal water hydrants were running under the umbrella of the KWSB. The DIG said that although the police take action against the miscreants, the KWSB officials were reluctant to come forward to register FIRs against the operators of illegal hydrants.
Contesting his statement, KWSB’s managing-director Misbahuddin Farid said although they report illegal hydrants to the police, the law enforcers do not take action.
Both the police officers gave an undertaking that, henceforth, the police will take action in accordance with the law if any illegal hydrant is found, without waiting for any complaint from the KWSB.
The DIG East also appeared and filed a statement against illegal hydrants, saying that the police in his area were taking action and three FIRs were registered in January.
He said that action was taken against people who illegally take gravel and sand from the Malir riverbed and 11 FIRs has been registered against such persons.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s ex-president Zubair Motiwala said a combined effluent treatment plant was the only answer to all the problems regarding release of industrial effluent into the sea. He said it was not feasible and possible for each industry to have a pre-treatment plant inside its premises. Motiwala said there is a distinction between the factories that produce toxic effluent and others that do not.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2017.
KARACHI: The Municipal Services Department (MSD) of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has started a recovery drive of utility taxes from the industrial defaulters in North Karachi Industrial Zone.
Raza Haider Rizvi, the senior MSD director said that the tax recovery mechanism had been imposed in 2009 for the collection of utility taxs from all the industrial zones located in Karachi during the tenure of former city Nazim Mustafa Kamal.
Only 118 industrial units are paying the tax out of a total of taxpayers of 4,983. The defaulting tax has amassed to Rs 1.70 billion during the last seven years, he added.
A camp office would be set up at North Karachi Industrial Zone to discuss the issue with the tax payers and persuade them to pay it, he said.
"We will try to convince the consumers to pay the utility taxs even in installments besides assuring them of writing off their tax surcharges".
He said that 1,109 out of total 1,164 consumers are defaulters in the North Karachi Industrial Zone. They owe Rs 270 million to MSD.
In SITE area, all of the 80 consumers are not paying any utility utility tax (Rs 13.40 million), in Korangi zone 1,391 are defaulters out of 1,422 consumers (Rs 383.66 million), in Landhi zone, 1,031 consumers out of 1,044 are defaulters (Rs 505 million), in F B area Industrial zone 341out of 343 are defaulters (Rs 85.61 million) and in other industrial zones 913 consumers out of 930 are defaulters (Rs 484.28 million).
It is expected that during the tax recovery drive, the department would be able to recover around Rs 300 million from the tax defaulters.
This year's tax recovery target has been set at Rs 800 million.
The MSD had initiated a tax recovery drive in November, 2016 for the recovery of dues from major defaulters including marriage halls. Under this drive, the department has recovered Rs 130 million from the defaulters.
KARACHI - Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar has directed the Medical and Health Services Department to activate itself and make all necessary efforts to bring improvement in the provision of better medical facilities to citizens.
While presiding over a meeting with the medical superintendents of all KMC-run medical institutions here on Thursday, he gave them instructions to submit development schemes regarding ADP and PDP on a priority basis.
The meeting was also attended by Karachi Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Abdullah Vohra, Municipal Commissioner Badar Jameel and Medical and Health Services Director Dr Muhammad Ali Abbasi.
The mayor also directed the financial adviser to immediately arrange funds so that the condition of hospitals could be improved and better facilities could be provided to the patients there. The medical superintendents informed him about the problems being faced by them.
The mayor directed the Medical Services director to attend to solve these problems on priority basis.
He also directed him to make a complete list of the problems confronted by the medical superintendents. “The list should be presented to me in the next meeting,” he added. Wasim opined, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
“If you feel any difficulty you can directly contact me or the deputy mayor,” he assured the medical superintendents. It was also decided in the meeting that the condition of washrooms and toilets at KMC hospitals would be improved on a war footing so that the visitors as well as the patients do not face any difficulty. The mayor stressed the need for solving all problems as soon as possible.
France Consul General
meets Wasim
Meanwhile, Consul General of France Francois Dallorso called on Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar at his office on Thursday. The mayor welcomed the consul general on his arrival at the KMC building and presented him memento of KMC.
During the meeting matters of mutual interest came under discussion.
Wasim apprised the French consul general about the ongoing development works and those in the pipeline.
He said all these were aimed at providing better municipal facilities to people of Karachi. The visiting consul general wished Karachi well.
This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 03-Feb-2017
–Karachi mayor says KMC faces severe budgetary deficit; expects urgent support from govt
–Karachi mayor says funds urgently needed to address backlog issue
–Mayor regrets that devolution of power as per the constitution has not been implemented properly
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is about to initiate a survey encompassing all categories of properties so as to expedite and streamline recovery of Municipal Utility Tax (MUT) in the metropolis.
Karachi Mayor, Wasim Akhter, in an interview with the news agency said KMC, faced with a severe budgetary deficit of Rs 8 billion, does not only expect urgent support from the provincial and federal governments, but is equally committed to raising funds on self-help basis.
Emphasising the importance of the job, he said the current recovery rate of the only tax imposed by KMC, rest being fees, is pathetically low.
“KMC is presently collecting, on an average, Rs 15 million to Rs 20 million as MUT against the envisaged Rs 250 million to Rs 300 million per month,” said the Mayor.
The massive population flow to Karachi during the past ten years and emergence of new businesses and habitat demands fresh survey to reassess numbers, as well as the value of properties, located in the metropolis.
“This is important as the surge has also enhanced manifold the demand for civic amenities and facilities that again require massive funds to meet the same,” he elaborated.
The properties to be covered were said to range from amenity plots to industrial, residential and commercial plots.
KMC Senior Finance Officer, Khalid Mehmood, while complimenting the mayor, said Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, as per existent estimates, can easily collect Rs 600 million to Rs 800 million under the head of MUT.
“However, since nothing can be done in a vacuum, KMC has adopted a pragmatic approach and hired services of a reputable and equally credible organisation to conduct an elaborate survey,” he said.
The organisation was said to have already realised the job in Punjab and has helped LMC strengthen its revenue generation capacities.
In reply to another query, Karachi mayor agreed that revenue collection in Karachi was in itself a major challenge and, for the purpose, KMC was, therefore, compelled to adopt measures as attachment of property and arrest of the non-payees.
This, he said, is being complimented with capacity building of KMC staffers ensuring quality service delivery to the citizens.
“We have to go for a carrot and stick policy, as our budget—already exposed to a deficit of Rs 8 billion— leave little space to be lenient,” said mayor Wasim Akhter.
To a query, Karachi mayor said funds are urgently needed to address the issue of backlog as no substantial work could be done in particular context of garbage disposal that has accumulated to severe proportions, due to inadequate handling during the past.
“There is no aggravation in the fact that Karachi generates 12,000 tonnes of garbage daily, while no more than 4,000 tonnes can be cleared turning several parts of Karachi into heaps exposing people to serious health risks,” said Wasim Akhter.
This may be mentioned that Sindh local government department through the body of Sindh Waste Management Board has only recently hired services of a Chinese company for garbage disposal in East and South districts of Karachi. The scheme is, however, yet to be functional.
Karachi Mayor said removal of encroachment built on some 30 different rain drains and storm water drains, repair of 33 major thoroughfares encompassing 8,000 kilometres and maintenance of 37 parks are the responsibilities KMC is trying to realise through limited resources at its disposal.
In its efforts to generate resources within available provision, he said KMC is presently engaged in setting right the charged parking, being done in a haphazard manner, besides streamlining its parks and amenity plots.
“Smart parking is being done at the KMC managed sites while the proper and judicious use of open space, parking grounds and parks are also ensured to generate revenue and providing needed recreational facilities to the masses,” he elaborated.
“We need targeted development in Karachi,” he emphasised and sought the support of the federal government in providing the sovereign guarantee for such schemes.
Loans and assistance cannot be procured from international agencies and institutions and other countries without guarantees provided by the federal government, said the Karachi mayor mentioning that provincial government also have to play its role in this regard.
He appreciated that federal government has provided needed assistance for the ambitious green bus service that is currently under construction in the metropolis.
“We have to ensure that development in every context is complimented on basis of population growth,” he said.
In reply to a question, he said essential revenue generation components of the metropolitan corporation ranging from water and sewerage board, solid waste management to transport and collection of local taxes have been taken away from the KMC after amendments to the provincial Local Bodies Act.
While the management of fire brigade department, KMC hospitals, charged parking, zoo management, cleaning of major rain drains coupled with infrastructure development in selected areas have been placed under KMC purview.
“Despite this scenario, we are trying to streamline the situation within available resources,” said the Mayor mentioning that the KMC also have to meet the liabilities related to salary and pension of its employees.
“I have been repeatedly informing the concerned quarters about the deficit the KMC is exposed to and which is hampering its performance,” he said.
The KMC urgently needed millions of rupees under varied heads, including infrastructure development (Rs 5,000 million), containment of environmental degradation (Rs 2,000 million); revamping of fire brigade department (Rs 500 million); meeting salary and pension related shortfall at the rate of Rs 300 million per month for 12 months and clearance of liabilities and debts (Rs 3,600).
Wasim Akhter regretted that devolution of power under the 18th amendment to the constitution has not been implemented in letter and spirit in the province itself and that the KMC during the past few years has been deprived of most of its authority.
“But we also cannot ignore that we have no money even to provide free of cost medicines to resource-less patients, while our fire brigade department is also in urgent need to be revamped.
“We currently have 32 engines in our fleet but only 24 are in working order and there is also no fund available to arrange for foam or replace the worn-out snorkel,” he said.
It is in this backdrop that MUT, introduced in 2009, is being reactivated and streamlined, but this cannot be enough to meet the needs of Karachi—the ever expanding city exposed to a series of challenges.
KARACHI - City Mayor Wasim Akhtar and head of Karachi Tajir Ittehad Ateeq Mir visited various markets of the city and distributed waste disposal bags to traders.
During the visit, the mayor inspected cleanliness work in markets, including Jama Cloth Market, Mariyam Market, Allahwali Market, Old Cloth Market near Light House, Bolton Market and Denso Hall.
Wasim gave away waste disposal bags to shopkeepers and traders and requested them to dispose of waste in these bags and place them outside their shops and houses from where KMC vehicles would lift them twice a day every day. Union Council 27 Chairman Muqeem Alam, Municipal Services Director Masood Alam and other officers were also present on this occasion.
Shopkeepers appreciated this gesture of the city mayor. Later, talking to the media, the mayor said, “This is our city and we all have to work for its betterment.” He thanked the Karachi Tajir Ittehad for inviting him to distribute waste disposal bags to shopkeepers. The mayor expressed the hope that traders’ cooperation would make the city look clean and beautiful soon.
The head of Karachi Tajir Ittehad said the business community would make the cleanliness drive a success and join hands with the city mayor.
This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 06-Feb-2017
“Speak for the city before worrying about factories, or import and exports.” With these words, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Monday implored the business community to join hands with him to make Karachi a vibrant and prosperous metropolis.
Expressing his views during a visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Akhtar said the city’s problems were visible to everyone but, unfortunately, only the city’s local administration was taking them seriously.
The mayor requested the business community to raise its voice, not for the mayor, but for the state of neglect their own city has been subjected to.
He said he would resign from his post if someone could solve its problems within a year’s time. “This is a joke! The city is being planned for by those who do not have a mandate here,” the mayor asserted.
Deputy city mayor, Arshad Abdullah Vohra, while speaking at the meeting called for making public whatever the business community or the FPCCI talked about with the government, for the sake of city’s problems.
He also attempted to move the business community and traders to ‘realise their responsibility for improving industrial areas along with the entire city’.
“Lahore should be developed; likewise the whole of Pakistan should progress. But the financial injustice meted out to Karachi must be stopped.”
Earlier FPCCI President in his welcome address said Karachi plays a key role in the development of national economy, but the city was facing acute problems, and both the Sindh and federal government must do the needful, immediately.
He hoped that the city mayor with his knowledge regarding the city’s problems would succeed in solving them.
Tufail further said that he would speak to the chief minister and the federal finance minister about the issues raised by Mayor Karachi, so that required funds could be released as soon as possible.
Besides deputy city mayor, the mayor was also accompanied by municipal commissioner Dr Badar Jamil, financial advisor Khalid Mehmood Shaikh and senior director municipal services Masood Alam; vice president FPCCI, Ishatiaq Baig, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Ghazala Saifi, Khalid Tawab and other FPCCI office bearers and members were also present on this occasion.
Deputy Mayor Karachi Dr. Arshad Abdullah Vohra laid foundation stone of construction and rehabilitation of 4000 Road near Saba Cinema in North Karachi on Wednesday.
In a briefing on the occasion, the Deputy Mayor was informed that this 1200 feet long and 42 feet wide road will be completed in six month with a cost of Rs19.701million, said a statement.
Dr.Arshad later inspected the construction work of road being constructed near Saba Cinema and directed concerned staff to remove the encroachments alongside this road and clear the service road and adjoining space so these could also made motor able.
He said the good standard must be ensured in development works so that these roads after their completion could prove durable and safe. The Deputy Mayor said drainage system was also being repaired at all major roads before start of road reconstruction.
He said a total of 140 thousand square feet roads being under construction in this area which also connect North Karachi with the Superhighway. He said our engineering team was supervising all these works besides the administration of District Municipal Corporation Central which also made this sure that development works were completed in time with good quality.
Deputy Mayor Karachi expressed hope that residents of North Karachi would facilitate with the construction of these roads. The Deputy Mayor was accompanied by vice chairman of DMC Central Shakir Ali whereas Director General Technical Services Shahab Anwer, Superintending Engineer Sami Khan, XEN and other officers were also present in the ground breaking ceremony of the project.
HYDERABAD: Japanese Consul-General Toshikazu Isomura has said that investment from his countrys businesses in Pakistan has increased over the last two years. During a visit to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) on Sunday, he said that around 81 Japanese companies are currently working on various projects in Pakistan.
HMC Mayor Syed Tayyab Hussain briefed the consul-general about the local government system in Sindh and their responsibilities. In the rest of the world, local government institutions are given authority but in our country, LG organisations are powerless and lack resources, he told the Japanese diplomat.
Mayor Hyderabad inaugurates renovated Slaughter House
