Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah sought advice from newly elected Local Government (LG) representatives of PPP, PTI, JI and independent to make Karachi one of most livable cities in world. Talking to town chairmen and vice chairmen of Karachi Division at CM House he observed that major issues of metropolis were water theft, encroachments and unauthorised constructions which need early redressal. CM greeted newly elected Town Chairmen and Vice-chairmen.  

Minister Shahla Raza, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Deputy Mayor Salman Murtaza and PPP leader Najmi Alam participated in meeting. CM urged town chairmen to explore more avenues to further enhance their revenues and observed. We have given property tax to local councils which would be good source of income for your towns, but you have to generate more revenue from other sources. CM said that he was going to constitute Provincial Finance Commission to distribute available resources.      

He said that Sindh Solid Waste Management Board was doing good job to keep city clean but towns were bound to get their respective town areas properly cleared.    

CM said that there was another issue of bogus and ghost employees in local bodies for which his government was taking measures to get rid of them. Town chairmen have to cooperate with local government in their scrutiny, he said. He said that Mayor and chairmen of towns must develop teamwork so that all issues of city and people could be resolved. On advice of chairmen, CM disclosed that he has already approved appointment of Municipal Magistrates so that violations of municipal laws, including throwing debris and trash on roads and streets could be tried as per law. He requested Town chairmen and directed Secretary of Local Government to take necessary measures to reduce six months transition time. Murtaza Wahab assured town chairmen that he would work with all as their team members. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 13 2023

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