KDA accounts officer paid half of retirement emolument in advance

Author: Aslam Shah

KARACHI: Karachi Development Authority has released half of the retirement emolument in advance to an official in sheer violation of rules.

Nasreen Ahtram, account officer (BPS-18), who is retiring on February 22, 2018, has received a cheque worth Rs 1 million and Rs 1.3 million cash (12-month salary against leave encashment) in her bank account.

According to an official of KDA’s Financial Department, there were massive financial irregularities in the department. “Posting of inefficient officials – not acquainted with the rule of business –has damage the fibre of department,” he asserted.

KDA Finance Director Shamsher Khan has released the said amount before the date of the retirement, officials of the civic entity have revealed.

More than 480 retired employees have been waiting for their dues to the tune of Rs 900 million for more than six years and among them several have died and their heirs are running pillar to post to receive legal dues of their deceased.

A year ago, KDA had appealed to the Sindh government to release funds to the tune of Rs 900 million to pay dues to retired employees.

Budget estimates of KDA for financial year 2017-2018 has an outlay of Rs 6.30 billion and supplementary budget of Rs 4.07 billion for financial year 2016-2017.

KDA budget includes Rs 2,333.57 million for development works, Rs 98.79 million for repair and reconstruction, Rs 433.60 million for non-development expenditure and Rs 3,436.07 million for payment of salary and pension. Around 4,711 employees are serving in the civic entity. Current fiscal year budget of Finance Department stands at Rs 280 million and for secretariat the figure stands at Rs 980 million.

Published in Daily Times, February 8^th2018.