KARACHI: The Sindh government in consultation with the Karachi mayor is working to amend the Local Government Act 2013 to make the local bodies system more effective so that it could deliver at the lowest level.

Besides, the government has also formed a committee under the commissioner of Karachi to prepare relief measures for the people affected by the ongoing operation in Saddar, which was aimed at cleaning the area from encroachments and restoring the iconic building of Empress Market to its original shape.

This emerged from a joint press conference addressed by Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar here on Wednesday at the office of the local government minister after their one-on-one meeting.

In the meeting, which lasted over an hour, they deliberated over the local bodies’ problems.

Relief committee formed for people affected by Saddar operation

They agreed to form a committee under the secretary of local government to remove hurdles, if any, in exercising the powers given to the mayor and KMC under Local Government Act 2013.

The members of the committee would include senior officers of local government and KMC and experts of local government laws.

The committee would review all aspects of the LG Act 2013 and if any orders had been issued contrary to the powers of the mayor and KMC, they would be withdrawn.

Addressing the press conference, the LG minister said that today’s meeting with the mayor was in continuity with the last meeting held at the central offices of KMC.

He said that during the first meeting the mayor had pointed out some issues which he had brought to the knowledge of the chief minister and also suggested some remedies for the solution of the reservations.

He said that the operation against encroachments was moving ahead in the right direction. However, in such a huge operation emergence of some complaints was natural. “We would certainly mitigate them and a committee under Karachi commissioner is already formed to get all information so that the government and KMC could provide due relief to the people affected by the operation”, he said.

Replying to a question, Saeed Ghani said he did not hesitate in accepting that in illegal buildings and encroachment not only their occupants were responsible, but equally involved were the black sheep in the institutions who had been patronising them. But now, he said, crackdown on them was also started.

The minister said that not only district Karachi, but also other cities would also be cleaned by extending the sphere of the operation from Saddar to entire Karachi and the province.

Regarding clean water supply, the minister said in areas where old lines were operating along with new connections, sewage was mixing up with water lines from old damaged water lines.

He said under a World Bank project the old lines were being replaced in the first phase.

Replying to another question, he said that anti-dengue spray was being carried out in the city, but the people as well ought to take precautionary steps by keeping clean water covered.

Mayor Wasim Akhtar said that Wednesday’s meeting with the LG minister was the second meeting pertaining to his commitment made during his first meeting with him to give all powers to the mayor and KMC which were granted to them under the Local Government Act 2013.

He said that formation of a committee under the secretary of local government to review the act from all aspects was agreed and expressed his gratitude for this to the Sindh government, the LG minister in particular.

He expressed the hope that addressing his reservations about the law, which resulted in reduction of the KMC’s revenue, would boost income to help institutions to improve their performance.

Empress Market shops

Responding to a question about the Empress Market operation the mayor said that some 35 years ago the KMC had rented out 4x4 stalls under an agreement but later they were occupied and the size of the stalls were converted illegally into big shops.

He made it clear that they would not assist any illegal occupant. However, those who had formal rent agreement, measures would be taken to provide them alternative livelihood.

In reply to a question, the mayor said that the pace of development work in the Karachi zoo was slow for some time, but now it was carried out with full speed.

He added that in the light of the apex court orders notices had been served to the encroachers around the zoo for clearing the area.

He said that the Sindh government had provided fire engines and a snorkel.

When he had taken over the charge of the city as mayor there were six fire engines, but today there were 18 fire engines, he added.

He also requested the Sindh government to sanction special funds to the KMC so that the allowance issue of firemen could be resolved.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018