Daily Times

KARACHI: Chairman District Council (DC) Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad has said that the province’s largest District Council comprising 65 percent of urban and rural areas is only getting Rs 90 million in regard of Octrio and Zila Tax (OZT) per month.

And out of this amount, more than Rs 60 million is spent on the salaries of the employees. The DC is comprising of 38 Union Committees (UCs) and Union Councils (UC) and presently it has no source of income, he said.

“The boundary limits of the DC are from Jamshoro to Hub and many UCs are deprived of gas, water and power facilities. Keeping this in mind, a development project with the assistance of Sindh Government is being devised to cater to the needs and aspirations of the area people,” said Salman Murad.

He added that a consultation process is in progress with the council members and after this some development programmes would be initiated under Public Private Partnership. The levy of tax on wedding halls, recreation sites, and mobile towers would be ensured.

“The most crucial problem of the DC is cleanliness and water. There is a determination to clean the whole area without any additional budget at any cost,” he vowed.

On water issue, he said existing water supply mega projects are not providing complete relief to the area people. “Now District administration is giving full attention to it, hence provision of sanitation and potable water would also be ensured,” he added.

In some UC’s, he added, water filter plants have been installed and we are working to further improve them. “With the assistance of Sindh Government, all UC’s would be provided with filter plants according to the needs of the respective area people,” he assured.

Salman further said that the DC would provide all possible assistance to the elected LB members with regards to the planning of drinking water supply schemes and cleanliness.

To a question, he said Town System was in place before this DC’s system and physically there was no machinery or vehicles to provide sanitation assistance to the area in the previous governance system.

“Despite all hurdles, this DC was on top of the list with respect to lifting offals and cleanliness drive during this Eid-ul-Azha,” said Salman, adding that some districts and Cantonment Boards were dumping filth in the sea area under our limits but we halted such activities.

He said the officials of DC have been directed to take action against those throwing litter in the sea. “We are building a road in UC Rehri to provide better communication facility to commuters and besides that the local fishermen would get more economic benefits,” said Salman.

He said Rehri UC has been linked with local government system after 16 years and we have restored the image of the elected LB representatives.