The Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) department of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has been experiencing shortage of staff since its creation in 2001.
Presently, it has only staff of 30 employees whereas it is handling investment projects worth billions of rupees.
The CDGK has been emphasising much for investment in city but has failed to meet the requirements of its Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) department, created for carrying out investment projects yet after two and half years.
The projects currently being handled by E&IP are waste to energy, Bagh-e-Ibn-Qasim, development of beaches, development of underdeveloped parks, food street, Landhi Abattoir and some others.
The total investment required for completion of these projects touch amounts of billions. Some projects are in bidding position, some are in appointment of consultants and work on a few could not be initiated due to number of reasons, mainly shortage of staff.
It was also learnt that "Schedule of Establishment" is yet to be approved for the department, causing enormous hardships for staff of the department in getting their salaries and benefits.
"All staff from EDO to peon are still drawing their salaries from their parent departments, which often result in delay in getting salaries," the official told.
According to the official, some of these mega investment projects were started immediately after the inception of CDGK, but these are yet to be completed as shortage of staff slowed the pace of work.
"City higher ups are much emphasising on investment in city, but are ignoring the basic necessitates to facilitate foreign and local investors. When investment department does not have required staff and expertise, how can one imagine to do something commendable in this regard," he added.
He pointed out that some departments handling only one or two projects are overburdened with staff, which could be deputed in E&IP.
The official told that tasks of E&IP are not only confined to investment projects, but it is also assigned to keep a check on prices of edible items in city.
The official cited shortage of staff as one of the reasons in failing to effectively control the price hike in city.
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