KARACHI: The local bodies in Sindh have been deprived of Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) award on behest of ulterior motives of Government of Sindh (GOS) since the last 12 years.
The numbers of local bodies facing deprivation are one Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), 28 District Municipal Corporations, 108 Tehsil Councils and 1,128 Union Councils in Sindh.
Waseeem Akhtar said in a statement that release of PFC award would enable local bodies to run their respective development and other projects in smooth manner besides shun dependence on special grants from GOS.
"After the release of PFC awards to all local bodies, grants will be stopped and thus upper hand and dictation of GOS will cease to exist", a local body government official opined.
Even members have been nominated on much-awaited Commission but its first ever meeting has not been convened.
Due to paucity of funds and PFC award, all local councils-from a union council of Sindh's remote district to KMC have been facing huge shortage of funds for long, making it hard for them even to pay salaries to their respective employees.
Services, General Administration and Coordination Department have already issued notification in this effect after 10 years while terms of the reference for PFC would be to determine obligatory and priority expenditure of local bodies and formulation of a divisible pool for the distribution of resources.
Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh also possessing portfolio of Finance Minister and Chairman of PFC, minister for Local Government as co-chairperson has been unable to take the matter seriously.
Other members on PFC are leader of the house Sindh Assembly, Makhdoom Rafiq-uz-Zaman and Faisal Sabzwari of Muttahida Qaumi Movement who is representing opposition, according to the notification.
Waseem Akhtar and Arslan Shaikh Mayor Sukkur, chairmen of district council, Jacobabad and chairman of municipal committee of Jacobabad are other members and are representing elected representatives of the municipalities.
Local government is now in place, but government has failed to mature it constitutional obligation of PFC share to local bodies.
Talking to Daily Times, Sindh Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro said, "We are working on PFC and in this connection Murad Ali Shah has also been consulted".
Pakistan Peoples Party's claim that it fulfils promise of distribution of National Finance Commission (NFC) share but failed to further it to metropolitan city, districts, tehsils and union council level.
Due to no provision of funds, the local bodies were not functioning properly, progress is affecting and corrupt practices were cropping up, said senior officials of KMC.
The PFC was awarded in 2005 for further three consecutive years.
Besides, Committee would prepare benchmarks of revenues and expenditures and revenue and expenditure projections for the local governments so that they are consistent with their respective mandates as envisaged by Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, and their powers to levy and collect taxes.
The PFC would suggest parameters for achieving fiscal discipline to maintain appropriate fiscal balance at provincial and local levels.
The notification said the commission would look into any other financial matter referred to it by Sindh Chief Minister.
100-day cleanliness drive yet to deliver despite tall claimsFebruary 20, 2017KARACHI - The cleanliness campaign that was initiated in three districts of the city, Central, East and Korangi, is yet to cast an impact in terms of improving cleanliness in these areas.Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhter, vowing to give a neat and clean look to the three districts, had launched the drive on December 1 last year, but despite the passage of 82 days it is still to bear fruits.During this period, the mayor was seen complaining about the non-availability of funds and powers.And the result is that the drive has failed to improve situation in these areas as evident by the scattered garbage and poor sewerage system.Later, in order to address the concerns of Wasim, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed divisional and district administrations to assist the mayor in the cleanliness drive, but the DMCs did not take much interest in achieving this task.On the other hand, Karachiites had welcomed the 100-day campaign, launched by the Wasim in three districts of the city, and it was believed that he and his team would bring at least some change in the condition of the city.However, despite hopes pinned by the citizens, no major change has been witnessed on the ground.However, the mayor, on different forums, kept claiming that the ongoing cleanliness drive was in full swing and most areas of the three districts had been cleaned.He also claimed that various development projects had also been launched in these areas.A senior official of KMC told this scribe on condition of anonymity that during the last 82 days, only 18 percent of garbage had been removed while a big chunk of these districts was still littered with heaps of garbage at different points.The official said that District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) were unable to lift the garbage due to lack of funds and other resources.The official informed that the major reason for garbages presence was the conflict between Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation over garbage lifting.Although the Board says it is responsible for disposing of the garbage, it does not fulfill its responsibility and also creates hurdles in the way of DMCs and KMC, the source added.It is worth mentioning here that the provincial government had released a handsome fund of Rs3billion to the Solid Waste Management Board for garbage lifting from two districts of the city, but the garbage lifting work has not started as yet.
South Korean delegation calls on mayorKARACHI: A South Korean delegation comprised of the Jinju mayor and other members called on Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar in his office on Monday.Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshad Abdullah Vohra, DMC Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi, Vice Chairman Shakir Ali, Municipal Senior Director Masood Alam was also present on this occasion.While talking to media representatives after the meeting, the mayor called it an honour to him that the South Korean City Jinju mayor visited the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.The mayor said that both Karachi and Jinju city have an opportunity to promote mutual contacts and cooperation in different sectors of the urban life, adding, the students from South Korea enrolled in the KMDC and other educational institutes is an honour for us and we want to expand this mutual cooperation especially in the education, industries and machinery.Jinju Mayor Lee Chang Hee expressed pleasure on visiting Karachi and meeting with the mayor.He said his delegation would remember this tour forever due to the hospitality and respect they received in the city.Later, the delegation along with the Karachi Mayor went to the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam to pay tribute.Mayor Jinju also visited the museum at Mazar-e-Quaid.
KARACHI: The Industrial sector has assured the Mayor for its help in the up-gradation of Food and Quality Control Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (FQCD KMC), officials of Mayor Secretariat have informed.
Waseem Akhtar following a detailed meeting with the business community has been given a positive reply in this regard and industrialists have assured him to pledge an amount of Rs 4 million for the purchase of new food equipments, chemicals and other necessary apparatus for FQCD KMC within a week .
Waseem after noticing the poor condition of FQCD Public Food testing laboratory has decided to suspend all public food samples testing for the time being as there is no use to use rundown testing equipment without acquiring results.
"This testing practice should be stopped as it is an eyewash and without overhauling FQCD KMC, we cannot ensure the food quality and it would be like playing with the health of general consumers of daily food consumable items", remarked Waseem.
When food testing laboratory would be renovated, we will also get judicial magisterial powers that have already been awarded by Sindh High Court.
After meeting with the home department Sindh and district session judge, names of judicial magistrates will be announced with the approval of government of Sindh.
KMC officials who were capable to run FQCD KMC smoothly should be inducted for better testing results and punishments will be awarded to officials violating rule and regulations.
A resolution under the Pure Food Act 1960 will be placed before the next meeting of City Council for enhancing registration fee from Rs 10 to Rs 500-10,000 annually, Waseem added.
All fast food outlets, restaurants, bakeries, hotels and multi national and national food and spices and condiments manufacturing companies would also be registered for this purpose.
FQCD KMC is running without food analysts, experts and other essential officials for the last five years, posts of one public analyst, two senior chemists, six chief food inspectors and same number of chief inspectors prosecution were still vacant.
Besides posts of stenographers, office superintendents, computer operators, assistant Account officers, accountants, head clerks, messengers, munshis and of peons are not filled.
Not even a single official in helm of affairs is there who could give attention for the betterment of food department.
During the past six years, almost 12 directors have served the department while vacant posts of a retired chief food inspector could also be filled.
According to KMC health department structure, there should be 12 food inspectors, 50 inspectors are required in 6 districts.
Food Ordinance 1960 is now not viable for present food checking system and there is dire need to implement a fresh Act for getting better results as 'This is matter of public health', said members of civil society.
Food Inspectors should be given powers to seal the sites violating Food Act, imposing penalties and sending the violators behind the bars.
FQCD KMC is responsible for checking quality of chicken, restaurants' food, meat, spices, bottled drinking water, loose and packed tea, cooking oil, juices, fresh and powder milk, cosmetics items, confectionary items, ice-cream and sweetmeat, besides imported and domestic manufactured food items.
The checking of quality of condiment, beverages and salt is also lies on KMC Food Department.
Thousands of cases of food adulteration and poor quality had been sent in last 16 years, but no violator was sent behind the bar except meager cash penalty.
Due to this tendency, the food violators are working fearlessly without any threat of being punished.
Development, rehabilitation works to continue in city: Mayor
KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Thursday reiterated his resolve that despite hurdles the development and rehabilitation works will be continued as this city belongs tous and we will never let our next generations down.
He said this while addressing a press briefing at Malir Town Office here, said a statement.
Earlier, the Mayor visited Korangi, Landhi, and Malir to review and inspect works being carried out under 100 days cleanliness campaign.
The Mayor said that people of Karachi watching everything; we build in this city. All the money allocated for different works in Karachi must spend here; some contractors and engineers are trying to hoodwink people, he alleged.
He said that if any embezzlement in funds was seen, we will not allow them to complete the project.
The Mayor Karachi said in the last eight years all KMC departments had been devastated and the whole structure went down. Whatever powers we have, we will fight it and work for the city, he added.
He said we want equal playing field in all areas of Karachi. Development works in Korangi should continue without any break. Chairman of DMC Korangi Nayyar Raza informed Mayor Karachi that 400 streets of Koarangi were being made concrete and the students of model English schools in Korangi and Landhi would get free of cost books and uniform.
Sindh govt has kept mayor away from big development programs, had appealed Federal and Sindh Govt for help but they did nothing: Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar
KARACHI: The autocratic attitude of nearly twelve newly appointed advisors to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has created mess in daily routine work of the civic entity, members of KMC Officers Association have shown their concern.
"Most of the appointees are retired officials from different government departments besides having affiliation with political parties", Association's officials revealed.
Haider Imam Rizvi and Tariq Mir, two of the Advisors during thier visits to different departments of KMC have started checking attendance, working manual, issuing warnings besides putting punitive orders on the in-service officials, they lamented.
"These actions of the Advisors are sheer violations of service rules and regulations of the entity as only relevant KMC's high officials with such authority could do so", members of Association remarked.
We have informed the Mayor Waseem Akhtar and Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Vohra on this development and are waiting for their reply.
This situation has created a panic among the KMC officials and resultantly their routine work has also being disrupted, they said.
More than 40 KMC officials serving in Basic Pay Scale of 18 to 20 grades in different departments of KMC are under mental agony due to this attitude of Advisors .
They are abusing powers unilaterally without having any authoritative rights and this seemed, "We are now useless to discharge our officials obligations", a senior KMC official, waiting for his posting remarked.
Meanwhile, on directives of Mayor, Human Resources Department KMC in a notification asked all officials of the KMC departments to ensure submission of service details including duty report/educational certificates/appointment date etc in order to decide their promotions, postings and to deal with other related matters.
It is pertinent to mention that a number of officials are working on OPS/Ex-Cadre/Out of turn promotion basis in violation of Supreme Court orders. An Affidavit/Certificate designed by Government of Sindh would also be obtained from all head of departments of KMC to ensure compliance of Supreme Court's orders.
Dr Badar Jamil, Municipal Commissioner (Principal and Chief Accountant Officer) has left for Lahore for official training for promotion to grade 21 cadre. He has not given his charge to any of the officials of KMC.
Two senior official of grade 20, Abdul Hafeez Siddiqui and Rehman Rajput are awaiting their respective postings without attending the office.
According to HRD KMC list, Mansoor Qazi, Dr Salma Kouser, Jawaid Raheem, Tasleem Ahmed, Hammad Siddiqui, Waseem Aftab, Mehmoodul Hasan, Ahsan Mirza, Shoib Ahmed Khan, Billal Manzer, Baber Ali Khan, Abdullah Mushtaq, Shariq Ilyas, Dr. Nushrat, Sabaull Islam, M Imran, Imran Qadeer, Minhaj-ul-Haq, M Usman, Zeeshan Haider, Mussarat Ali, Zafer Rajput, Mansoor Mirza, Wasiq Hussain Faridi, Farhan Durrani (he is abroad) and Tahir Jamil Durrani (in prison in result of undergoing probe by National Accountability Bureau) are waiting for further postings.
Masood Alam in violation of KMC service rules is heading the Municipal Services, Fumigation, Graveyard, Fire Brigade, Rescue and Heavy Machinery, similarly Ali Hasan Sajid is heading, Media, Protocol and Printing Press, Nazeer Lakhani heading Katchi Abadis and Anti-Enforcement, Mukhtair Hussain heading Recovery, Charge Parking and Transport Communication and Dr Ashgar Abbas is looking as head of Food Department and MSD, according to official data.
Currently, KMC is functioning with the employment workforce of 16,796 with a pay role of Rs 10 billion annually, according to HRD KMC.
The sale of substandard food items reflects the failure to implement quality control mechanisms. Legal and administrative action is required to impose a crackdown on food adulteration. City Mayor Waseem Akhtar has taken a welcome step by issuing a warning to the staff of the food and quality control lab at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation about the matter. As per the mayor’s orders, if the inspectors either adopt a complacent attitude towards adulteration or support the makers of substandard food, they will be dismissed from service.
Contaminated and substandard food triggers countless health concerns and efforts must be made to prevent the sale of such items in the market. The makers and distributors of such items should be booked and the relevant authorities must carry out surprise inspections to maintain quality control. These concerns should be dealt with on a priority basis as the health of citizens cannot be compromised at any cost.
KARACHI - Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhter on Tuesday said major political stakeholders of the city did not want the local government system to take roots.
He asked Sindh bureaucracy to avoid indulging in illegal activities and refuse to bow down before pressure put on them for doing something unlawful like their counterparts in Punjab do.
“I am already handcuffed and now some powers are trying to restrict my powers further,” he said.
He was speaking to media after visiting various parts of New Karachi and North Karachi industrial areas.
He was accompanied by District Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi, New Karachi Industrial Area Association Chief Captain Moiz, Municipal Services Director Masood Alam and others.
Wasim Akhtar called for appreciating the services of those people who were performing their duties honestly, adding that Karachi was on the edge of destruction and now it was the responsibility of bureaucracy, traders and industrialists to own the city to make it a modern one. “We have not come from outside of the city. We are the locals so meet us to resolve the issues of Karachi,” he underscored.
He said that a proposal had been forwarded to the chief minister for the upgradation of Fire Brigade Department, but he did not pay heed to it.
“I received all things in obsolete condition,” he said, and wondered as to where the amount of billion of rupees had been spent before this local government took over.
He lamented that the situation had come to such a pass that KMC was even unable to purchase dust bins due to lack of funds.
Wasim stressed that the issues of industrial zones of the city should be resolved on priority basis. “We are responsible for ensuring cleanliness in the city, introducing a proper sewerage system, repairing damaged city roads and doing other assignments,” he said, and expressed the confidence that all these issues would be resolved soon.
The mayor, on the occasion, announced to provide a fire tender to the association of industrialists and also garbage bags.
Earlier, he appealed to the industrialists to provide financial support to KMC for ensuring cleanliness in the city and carrying out other development works.
Chief of New Karachi Industrial Zone Captain Moiz also condemned the Sindh government for not devolving the powers to the mayor.
He equated it with creating hurdles in the working of local government.
This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 01-Mar-2017
