KARACHI: Several officials of the engineering department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) are sitting idle as they are unable to deliver for the sections they were supposed to supervise.
It has been learnt that Director General (DG) Engineering Department KMC Niaz Somroo, who is a close ally of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, is holding four additional posts and reluctant to post officials for the supervision of different development projects.
Niaz is holding additional posts of Project Director of Mega Projects, Project Director Development Projects, and DG Education Works. The Inspection and Quality Control Department of KMC Engineering is no more functional, said an official, adding that there is no one to supervise the ongoing development projects.
Several development projects like building of sidewalks, roads, underpasses, flyovers, parks, playgrounds etc. are not being supervised properly and also facing impediments, he added. The projects which are facing delays include Malir River Bridge, First Chowrangi Underpass and construction work on National Highway to Thatta Road.
Besides, work of Kashmir Hockey Stadium project has not been started and the development work of Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium is delayed. The supervision of several development projects has been assigned to lower grade officials.
KMC Engineering Department is working with 824 employees including 86 officers, 4 Chief Engineers, Deputy Chief Engineer, superintendent Engineers, Executive Engineers, Director Planning and others.
The annual revenue of the department is Rs 167.60 million and expenditures come around at Rs 478.298 million.
Two close associates of Murad Ali Shah are serving as head of Contract Management and Transport Communication at KMC Engineering Department. Chief Engineers Abdul Rahim Sheikh and Aslam Sheikh were the only officials supervising different development projects in the city.
By December 2016, projects worth around Rs 10 billion are being commenced and it was decided that the supervision job would be given to close associates. The elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Karachi would only to supervise the ongoing development projects and would have no say in the financial setup and
would not take any financial decision on such development projects after this set up.