Over 0.12 million employees of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and its sub-ordinate departments are unlikely to get the advance salary before the fast-coming Eid-ul-Azha, as the City Government is facing acute shortage of funds. CDGK, which has been braving financial crisis for the last few months were unable to pay the advance salaries to its employees as it was currently facing the shortages of over Rs 80 million.
Despite a directive received from the Sindh Government, for the grant of advance pay/pension to all Muslim government employees/pensioners on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, the CDGK's finance department was reluctant to follow the directive as it has not enough money to meet the new demand.
Though, the Executive District Officer (EDO) Finance and Planning of CDGK, following the provincial government's directives, through a letter CDGK/EDO (F&P) 178/2009, dated 17-11-2009, had directed the Additional District Officer (ADO) of the department, to arrange the funds required for the disbursement of advance pay/pension to the Muslim employees, the ADO was reluctant to take step in this regard as the government had no enough money to release the salaries of thousands of employees.
On the other hand, sources said, City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, had approached the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, for an additional fund to release the salary of November in advance.
Talking to Business Recorder, the employees of different departments of CDGK at Civic Centre, said though there were two to three days ahead of the Eid, there was no sign of any arrangements on the part of CDGK to disburse the salaries. "We are yet to purchase the sacrificial animals and other necessary items for the Eid but it seems that we could not do so for the non-payment of their salaries," they added.
A large number of employees, who found in acute frustration at civic centre over uncertainty regarding the promised advance salary, complained that the officials in the finance department were paying the dues of contractors while depriving salaries of its own employees.
Beside the staffs of different department of CDGK, employees of, Karachi Building Control Authority, Malir Development Authority and Lyari Development Authority, were also anxiously waiting for the one month's salary to meet their needs on the eve of Eid.According to the sources City Government, for the last couple of months, has not been able to pay the monthly salaries of its employees in time and thousands of its employees have been facing serious difficulties to run their kitchen due to the continuous delay.
With the reduction of CDGK's fund by the provincial government as the city government frequently claims, there was also a drastic decline in the income of the city government from its commercialisation activities due to the current financial crisis, which has hit the domestic and international market.
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