KARACHI:
Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has stated that most departments under his ministry pay pensions to retired employees, but outstanding dues from the past remain a huge burden.
While speaking during question hour in the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, the minister accused former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, who belonged to the MQM, of misappropriating pension funds for other purposes.
He said that the Sindh government allocates Rs 1.2 billion monthly to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for salaries and pensions. While KMC’s pension payments are now regular, there are Rs 13 billion in outstanding installments, with payments made up to July 2017 and subsequent installments still outstanding. Ghani clarified that KMC is responsible for paying the dues of District Municipal Group (DMG) employees until 2023, while cities must bear the dues of new employees.
The minister further revealed that the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) owes its employees Rs 3.8 billion in unpaid dues since September 2020. Despite this, the Sindh government provides Rs 400 million monthly to the KDA for salaries. and pensions.
Regarding sanitation, Ghani revealed that a Chinese company’s contract for garbage collection in the Eastern District was not renewed because the company refused to pay in Pakistani currency. Other contracts have been adjusted to ensure payments are made in rupees to control expenses.
Responding to complaints by MQM-Pakistan MPA Amir Siddiqui about poor sanitation in Jamshed Town, Ghani admitted that the entire Eastern District faces similar problems. He added that door-to-door garbage collection has not yet started. The employees transferred from the cities to the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board were permanent workers reassigned to other duties, while some “ghost employees” were laid off.
On the issue of paid parking, the minister clarified that KMC and some cities have designated parking areas. However, removing illegal parking is the responsibility of police and enforcement agencies, not the Department of Local Government.
Ghani said Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has Rs 5.1 billion in outstanding dues from July 2020 to December 2024. This includes Rs 2.1 billion owed by various government departments and Rs 2.5 billion claimed by the KMC. Federal institutions also owe KWSC Rs 12.5 billion, an amount which is currently being reconciled.
Also speaking at the Assembly Question Time, Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced key developments in public transport.
The minister also touched on cycle lanes, saying that while the idea is commendable, it is more feasible in cities with less traffic congestion. He said bicycles are allowed on the Red Line and Green Line tracks, but Sharae Faisal remains inadequate due to frequent misuse of the paths to park motorcycles.
