Amid a strong outcry from opposition the City Council on Monday, through a resolution, backed the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) on revising a 100 percent increase in the rents of its shops to 50 percent.
In the same session leader of the house Asif Siddiqui criticised the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for unilaterally charging Rs 239 per month under Pakistan Package.
With opposition boycotting the session after a heated debate the Haq Parasts dominated Council also adopted two more resolutions on conversion of an amenity plot into the commercial one and annulment of a previous resolution (No 268) on giving a commercial status to Shaheed-e-Millat Road.
The City Council general session with City Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil at its chair was held here in the City Council Hall, Old KMC Building, M A Jinnah Road.
Soon after the session resumed, Ramzan Awan backed by Sheikh Mehboob-ur-Rehman from opposition criticised CDGK for delaying release of Rs 9.5 million funds to the union council (UC) nazims, which had halted developmental work in their respective UCs.
The opposition members said they were able to complete less than 25 percent developmental work in their respective UCs during the last 10 months and contractors were also stepping back from their contracts due to lack of funds.
Abdul Razzaq of Al-Khidmat Group also joined them by demanding the convenor of devising a comprehensive strategy to resolve the longstanding issue.
Another opposition member from Baldia Town accused the CDGK and Town Administration of purposely turning a blind eye to the development of his UC. He claimed that the previous and present city governments had spent not a single penny in UC-6 of Baldia Town for the last six years.
Further, Yaqoob Khan claimed that the Town Administration had left a Rs 9 million road construction project incomplete, which had caused inundation of the surrounding houses due to a damaged sewerage system for the last six months.
Sharif Awan from opposition drew attention of the house towards a 35-feet deep ditch in his area, which he claimed had caused two persons' death. He urged the naib nazim to cover the big deadly holes as soon as possible to avoid further casualties. The convenor winded up the debate with an assurance that the complaints would soon be addressed.
Leader of the opposition Saeed Ghani was critical when Asif Siddiqui said the PTCL had activated its new package throughout the country and asked the customers to visit their centres for deactivation.
Ghani lashed out at Asif and said the treasury, which was now criticising the private company for fleecing customers, had kept aloof from an opposition led movement against its privatisation.
He also slammed CDGK for not issuing the allocated funds to his UC. Ghani said although his UC had received checks of Rs 0.4 million during the last two years but most of the checks had bounced later.
The city nazim could not escape wrath of Saeed Ghani, who slammed the former for making false announcements of issuing equal funds to the UCs. Ghani said the opposition was ready to collect funds from non-governmental organisations and other charitable institutions if the CDGK was not able to fund the developmental projects due to financial problems.
As the debate turned hotter the convenor diverted it to the resolution on change of use of land. The treasury led by Abdul Jalil said yes to convert an 8.3-acre plot in Gulshan-e-Iqbal near Civic Centre into commercial land and for giving it to any private firm for construction of 4-5 star luxury hotel.
Abdul Jalil said the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001 had authorised the City Council to change the status of the land and giving a small portion of the huge plot would not disturb other recreational activities in the area. The opposition however demanded the said land to be used for construction of a park or any recreational facility.
Ultimately, the house adopted two resolutions with majority on the long-awaited 50 percent reduction of rents for the CDGK shops and cancellation of commercial status of Shaheed-e-Millat Road. The session was adjourned till January 29, 2007.
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