KARACHI: The Karachi Municipal Services Board (KMSB) is now the need of the hour to streamline all civic and administrative issues of the city. This very concept of four-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) under its orders on October 10, 2007 had directed the Sindh government to constitute a single agency concept for municipal services in the city. On an application filed by Dr Asim Hussain, a citizen had prayed SC to guide government for a single civic agency for the resolution of all civic issues of Karachi. After the deliberations of around 22 different federal, provincial and local body agencies on the matter, SC after hearing of nearly 18 months had ordered Sindh government to the Court’s directives in this respect. After two months, Cantonment Board had prayed SC for granting a stay order against Sindh government’s notification for constitution a Board of Governor and survey of civilian land under precinct of Cantonment Board. Around 10-years time after stay order, this matter remained on back burner. Waseem Akthar, Mayor Karachi submitted a petition challenging Local Government Act 2013, prayed Court that under Article 140 of Constitution, administrative and financial powers to local bodies in city. The mayor in his plea informed SC that Sindh government after taking these vital organs had usurped civic bodies’ powers. Sindh government took over control of water and sanitation, master plan, solid waste and urban land management, transport and traffic management including mass transit and infrastructure and development projects of city. Mayor proposed a body in name of Karachi Municipal Management Board to tackle city issues. During hearing of Water Commission in January 2018, SC Waseem directed to present a clear plan for the resolution of multifarious civic administrative and financial issues of Karachi. Mayor on this directive submitted its proposals in question along with SC’s order in HRC 6844 of 2006, in which the then Chief Justice along with bench had ordered for hand over municipal services to local bodies. “Indeed, there is earnest need for early and effective administrative and legislative measures in order to harmonise and synchronise working of statutory bodies across board”, SC maintained. According to SC, members on Board should be included Secretary LGD, Land Utilisation, Capital City Police Officer, chairmen, KPT, PQA, PSM, DG, Civil Aviation Authority, Chief Executive K-Electric, MD SSGC Vice President PTCL, Administrator DHA, Director Military Lands and Cantonment, Station Commander, Station Headquarter, representatives of Corps Commander, COMKAR, Southern Air Command, chiefs Korangi, Malir, Clifton, Manora and Karachi Cantonment Board, Deputy Administrator, Evacuee Trust Property, Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railway, MD SITE, Building Controller, MD KWSB and other related officials. It is pertinent to mention here that in pursuance of Court order, Dr Ishrat-Ibad, the then Governor Sindh with consent of all stakeholders prepared to a workable plan in light of Karachi Strategies Development. A Board of Governor was also under consideration to be constituted to manage municipal service in Karachi. Six Karachi Cantonment Boards housing more than 44,514 acres of land out of which civilian land comes to around 27,096 acres. Water supply, sanitation, conservancy, garbage, sewer, storm water, solid and liquid wastage, drainage, public toilets, expressway bridges, flyover, public roads, footpath and streets, traffic signals, lighting, parks and playgrounds, gardens, intercity maintaining network, landscaping, bill boards and hoarding, fire fighting and land use control are the function that would be controlled under single body civic body. World’s other largest cities’ build-up urban areas under 2016 estimates have a single command land authorities. Tokyo-Yokohama,Jakarta, Delhi, Seoul-Incheon, Manila, Mumbai, Shanghai, New York, Sao Paulo, Beijing, Mexico City, Guangzhou-Foshan, Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, Moscow, Dhaka, Cairo, Bangkok, Los Angeles and Kolkata are among them. According to 2017 national census, growth of city remained 3.5 percent, area 3,600 square kilometers including urban area 1,800 sq kms with road network of 10,000 kms. Published in Daily Times, January 31st 2018.