Mayor agrees to form KMC-KCCI Liaison Committee
12-Jan-17
KARACHI: In response to the Karachi Chamber's suggestion, Mayor Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Waseem Akhtar agreed to form a liaison committee between KMC and KCCI to look into the civic issues of Karachi and accordingly give recommendations for resolving the same on a priority basis.
Speaking at a meeting during his visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Waseem Akhtar nominated Deputy Mayor KMC Dr. Arshad Vohra as focal person for KMC-KCCI Liaison Committee whereas at least four to five representatives from Karachi Chamber will also be part of the said committee.
Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Deputy Mayor KMC Dr. Arshad Vohra, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, Former Presidents KCCI AQ Khalil and Younus Muhammad Bashir, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon and KCCI Managing Committee members were present on the occasion.
Mayor KMC Waseem Akhtar admitted that they made many mistakes in the past but instead of arguing further and blaming each other for these mistakes, it's time to look forward and work with sincerely for the betterment of Karachi.
He was of the view that city governments around the world are most powerful but unfortunately in the case of Karachi, the city government is very weak due to lack of powers. "We delivered in the past when city government had powers and we once again demand these powers, particularly the administrative and financial powers otherwise we will not be able to deliver", he added.
Referring to concerns expressed by meeting participants over the notices received for payment of exorbitant taxes of the last 7 to 8 years retrospectively, he assured to look into this matter and come up with a feasible solution by holding consultation with concerned stakeholders.
Seeking Karachi Chamber's support to resolve the civic issues of Karachi, Mayor KMC presented a document carrying numerous proposals as to how KCCI and KMC can work together to improve the poor standard of living in Karachi. "We don't need funds from the business community but we want you people to come forward and support us by owning some of KMC's assets including schools, parks, hospitals and dispensaries etc.", he added.
Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, in his remarks, said that it was really unfortunate that all political parties of Sindh including PPP, MQM, ANP or any other party do not bother to look beyond their party matters, which was the basic reason why Karachi city continues to suffer. "We, at KCCI, only supported those politicians who strived for the betterment of Karachi and always vocally opposed those who failed to do anything for this city", Siraj Teli said, "Even in the past, the coalition government of PPP, MQM and ANP kept enjoying massive powers and they also had sufficient funds but none of them bothered to undertake development work in Karachi. At that point in time, despite the law and order situation being so bad, KCCI kept raising its voice by accusing all three political parties for rising lawlessness, which resulted in upsetting them all. Although none of these parties were willing to take steps to improve the law and order situation but somehow whether willingly or unwillingly, all of them mutually agreed to initiate Karachi Operation in 2013 which yielded positive results as criminal activities nowadays have been reduced by around 70 to 80 percent except for petty street crimes.
Similarly, all political parties, nowadays, were once again responsible for creating issues pertaining to local government and it seems that nobody was willing to surrender their powers or work together, but the fact remains is that it is Karachiites who continue to suffer due to such an attitude.
He pointed out that escalated bills and notices pertaining to demand for taxes were only being sent to further loot the citizens who were already being harassed and looted at the federal level by FBR and at the provincial level by SRB and now the local government has also started doing the same.
The local government, obviously, requires funds to initiate development work but the system being used to enhance revenue by imposing exorbitant taxes was faulty which has to be rectified, he advised.
He said that FBR, SRB and the local government should levy taxes, but a system should be devised to avoid dual taxation. Secondly, at least 60 to 70 percent of the taxes should be used for development and be visible on the ground which would surely provide a huge relief to Karachiites, but unfortunately, this was not happening.
Fiscal 2016-17: KMC misses first half-year revenue target
12-Jan-17
KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has received Rs 6.34billion less than its receivables total chunk of Rs 11.48billion on different heads during the Fiscal 2016-17, said KMC Finance Department.
In a report submitted to mayor, deputy mayor and municipal commissioner Karachi, KMC finance director said the Sindh government did not make full payment in December 31, 2016, in the head of Octroi, Zila Tax and Grand-in-Aid. Sindh government's half-yearly budget target was 4.73 billion but Rs 4.55 billion was paid to KMC.
According to OZT and Grant-in-Aid, the Sindh government paid Rs 1.22 billion to KMC in July, Rs 855 million in August, Rs 606 million in September, Rs 606 million in October, Rs 651 million in November and Rs 606 in December 2016.
KMC would not get budget amount from KDA and Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) that stands at Rs 6.488 billion, including Local Tax. The said amount is distributed among six District Municipal Corporations.
The report said that Karachi Electric owes Rs 1.78 billion to KMC. Revenue receipts of parking fee at Hawksbay Truck Stand, Aquarium Clifton and KMC Information Technology Department stand at zero as these departments remained idle in their respective official obligations.
According to a finance report, KMC Food Department collected Rs 590,000 during December 31, 2016, (88.24% less than target), Transport and Communication gathered Rs 11,74,000 (81.42 less than target), Enterprise and Investment Promotion Rs 3.2 million (93.42 less than target), KMC Medical and Health Services Rs 6.52million (85.59 less than target), Store and Procurement Rs 2,000 (99.74 less than target), Municipal Commissioner Secretariat Rs 2,60000 (97.29 less than target), District Medical Services Rs 1,31000 (95.44 less than target), Works and Services Department Rs 2.46 million (70.85 less than target), Finance Department Rs 151.37 million (29.98 less than target), Parks and Horticulture Department Rs 7.98 million (57.32 less than target), Veterinary Department Rs 3.15 million (93.75 less than target), Culture and Sports Complex Rs 3.85 million (74.07 less than target), Karachi Zoo and Landhi Korangi Zoo Rs 26.92 million (0.52 less than target), Safari Park Rs 5.17 million (65 less than target), Alladin Park Rs 15.93 million (0.63 less than target), from sale of tenders and graveyard income Rs 287 million (45.69 less than target), Solid Waste Management Rs 14.29 million (13.40 less than target), Fire Brigade Rs 2.41 million (52.57 less than target), Municipal Utility Charges tax Rs 122.36 million (75.73 less than target), Land Revenue II Rs 42.35 million (92.88 less than target), Project Director Orangi Rs 12.94 million (86.86 less than target), Katchi Abadis Rs 7.15 million (71.63 less than target), Estate Department Rs 70.59 million (81.27 less than target), Charged Parking and Toll Tax Rs 23.91 million (69.60 less than target), and KMC Enforcement Department received Rs 15.67 million (68.90 less than target). The total revenue shortfall in term of percentage stands at 44.80 percent.
Meanwhile, the total revenue receipts of KMC stood at Rs 22.80 billion but the entity received was Rs 6,34 billion in six months out of its set target of Rs 11.49 billion.
All KMC offices to have disability access ramps, says Waseem Akhtar
January 12, 2017
Mayor says private organisations will also be pushed
to ensure better access facilities
Wheelchair access ramps will be installed at the head office of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the authority's various other offices in the city, while private organisations will also be pushed to ensure this facility is provided at every building, said Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar on Wednesday.
"Efforts will be made to implement and enhance the job quota for people with disabilities in the government organisations," said the mayor while addressing a ‘Seminar on Independent Living’ organised by the Pakistan Disabled Welfare Association at a local hotel.
KMC municipal services director Masood Alam, representatives of organisations working for disabled persons and office bearers of the Pakistan Disabled Welfare Association (PDWA) attended the seminar.
The mayor said: “We want to solve problems being faced by the disabled people and this programme of enabling disabled people to live independently is a commendable effort by the organisers.”
Addressing the disabled persons at the gathering, he said they could meet him directly for their matters related to KMC.
Akhtar said he would inspect the ramps installed in the KMC head office and ensure its availability in other KMC offices.
Infrastructure development
The mayor has directed the engineering department to ensure timely completion of infrastructure development projects that have been planned to be completed in the current fiscal year, including the Provincial ADP, the District ADP Projects and the Mega Schemes for Karachi.
He was presiding over a meeting of the engineering department during which a detailed briefing was given about the projects to be carried out in the city.
The meeting was attended by technical services director general Shahab Anwer, chief engineers of different zones, consultants and project directors.
It was informed in the meeting that a total of 249 schemes worth Rs5000.407million would be completed under district ADP which includes works on infrastructure development in six districts of Karachi, including projects of road construction, repairing and other works in education, health and education and culture and sports.
The mayor said priority should be given to such schemes which could benefit the citizens of Karachi.