KARACHI: Around 3,545 ghost employees in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) out of a total strength of 16,796 employees have been serving 17 different departments of the civic entity for the last several years. According to the entity’s payroll report, 13,383 employees are working in the KMC while around 20,000 pensioners are listed in the monthly pension release record. KMC Payroll Department’s officials said that that mayor and deputy mayor, besides the Finance Department of the entity, had been informed about the matter. Around Rs 600 million has been siphoned off through release of ghost employees’ salaries without any check. Moreover, there is no record of testimonials, including computerised national identity card numbers and other personal information of ghost employees in the KMC. The officials have informed that the entity on an average is spending Rs 14 billion annually, including Rs 11.73 billion for salaries, Rs 2.07 billion for allowances and Rs 251 million for repair and maintenance of the department’s vehicles Around 45 ghost employees of closed KMC Aquarium Clifton, 700 employees of Charged Parking Department, 600 ghost employees of the Municipal Services Department, besides ghost employees of the park and horticulture, veterinary, finance, investment and promotion enterprises, land enforcement, fire brigade, fumigation, trade licence, death and birth, food and health departments have been enjoying monthly salaries for the last several years. Meanwhile, Rehan Khan, senior director finance has said around 1,500 vacancies in various departments of the entity are lying vacant. He maintained that if employees’ salaries were streamlined through the Sindh, the salary issue of the civic entity would be resolved to a great extent. Sindh Local Government Secretary Ramzan Awan has also informed the court about the presence of ghost employees in the KMC. A report had also been submitted in the Sindh High Court in the backdrop of a suit by Combined Bargaining Union of the KMC seeking timely release of their salaries, pensions and other benefits. In a recent order, SHC has directed the Sindh accountant general to probe into the matter. Earlier, five cosmetics probes were undertaken to unearth ghost employees but to no avail. Finance Department officials have said that the probe against former Payroll Department director, besides 17 other officials of the KMC, was on cards. Dr Farooq, director Veterinary Department, said that out of 153 employees transferred from the Charged Parking Department to his department, 82 employees were found as ghost employees and this information had been sent to the Human Resources Management Department for further action. KMC Sajjan Labour Union President Zulfiqar Shah said that the court had ordered the Sindh government to release a sum of Rs 2.10 billion to the KMC within 30 days for onward payment to pensioners. The court has also instructed the KMC not to release any amount except funds for salary and pension. Published in Daily Times, October 9th 2017.