Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh government has decided that all ailing institutions will be stood on their feet and a grand operation against all ‘Ghost Workers’ in Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) will be starting soon.

This was indicated by the Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Jam Khan Shoro while talking to media after inaugurating the Flower Show at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park on Saturday. He also inspected the renovation of the park.

The city residents will soon feel positive changes in KMC and KW&SB. Till 2005, due to financial strength the KW&SB used to pay its electricity bills regularly, besides salaries and other facilities to its employees in time, the board also managed to funds its mega development projects, now the board needs a grant of Rs500 million for electricity bills on monthly basis. The Sindh government is including KW&SB development projects in its Annual Development Plan (ADP).

In the past, the KW&SB used to provide grants to other institutions, now the board needs grant of Rs500 million for employees’ salaries. The parks as well as other departments under its umbrella are in bad shape.

He said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) which led City Government had received Rs300 billion in funds during Pervez Musharraf regime but not a single project of drinking water, sewage, mass transit and garbage disposal was built.

During that period, the provincial government had provided alternate land for resettlement to residents of Treatment Plant-II (TP-II) which was in the proximity of Mehmoodabad, people living in Parks and on way Lyari Expressway were allotted land in Musharraf Colony and other areas. But MQM workers have grabbed the resettlement land and have established party’s unit and sector offices, he added.

Employment to over 43,000 in KMC and KW&SB were given illegally and of these most the posts belongs to ‘Ghost Workers’ who were MQM workers. These acts have completely paralysed the KMC and KW&SB who were earlier running the affairs without any financial help and now these two organizations are dragging billions of rupees in grants on monthly basis, he informed.

On the directives of Pakistan People Party’s leadership, the Sindh Government has started construction of Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV, Karachi Sewage

Treatment Project S-III, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) for garbage disposal and sweeping was contracted to a Chinese Company that has started its operation on one hand.

The provincial government has entered into collaborated funding with the federal government for projects including Green Line Project. While Sindh government started projects like Orange, Yellow and other lines .

Keeping in view of the worst condition of parks across the city, the Sindh Government through legislation has taken the control of parks that were in worst condition. The general public will soon get better and free recreational facilities, he informed.