Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Council that is also known as City Council adopted a resolution reiterating its demand to the Sindh government for devolution of administrative and financial powers to the local bodies setup as per Article 40-A of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The council in its session on Monday, also requested the Supreme Court (SC) for an early decision over a pending KMC's petition No-24/2017 filed by Karachi Mayor regarding implementation of Article 40-A, in letter and spirit.
Mayor Waseem Akhtar presided over the session that commenced two hours behind the schedule at Old KMC Building. The sitting that lasted for about 3 hours adopted nearly two dozen resolutions and Metropolitan Commissioner's memoranda.
The council stated that absence of local authority would retard development of municipal relationship between citizens and the state. A strong local government system is pivotal for strengthening of institutions and democracy.
The Mayor demanded that solid-waste management, urban transport and mass transit, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, Karachi Development Authority, Master Plan Development and Town Planning and Urban Transport and Mass Transit be transferred to KMC exercising the powers conferred to the government by section 74 (b) of Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA), 2013.
He said constitutional development from encouragement of local government institutions to a constitutional duty to establish the LG system and creation of local governments based on constitutional directive to devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local government is a giant leap forward as compared to the past.
He lamented that due to lack of funds and powers, many issues are lying unattended across the city. UC chairmen cannot execute any development scheme in their respective areas, he said.
The council members said that without empowering local councils through devolution of powers, holding of next elections would become meaningless.
Meanwhile, members from the opposition benches, including Pakistan People's Party parliamentary leader Karamullah Waqasi and Jamaat-e-Islami Junaid Mukati complained that the MQM-dominated council is used to adopting resolutions without presenting before the floor for debate. They alleged that majority of schemes are approved without taking the concerned committee chairman into confidence.
The Council members, represented conditions at different UCs particularly Lyari and Korangi and sought Mayor's attention on increasing cases of pye-dog bites in the city. However, Mayor expressed his inability to address the issue citing lack of anti-rabies medicine at KMC-run hospitals.
Quoting a report by Indus Hospital, he said around 150 people fall victims to pye-dog biting every day in Karachi, while hospitals are starved of injections. He requested Sindh government to provide anti-rabies injections to KMC hospitals.
The council also adopted a Metropolitan Commissioner's memorandum dated March 3, 2019 seeking adjustment/re-appropriation of additional Rs 1.68 million in Hajj budget.
Earlier, Rs 15 million was earmarked for Hajj expenditure of 30 KMC employees. The increase was demanded due to federal government's cut in the Hajj subsidy. It said Rs 426,975 per head had been fixed for this year pilgrimage.
The council also approved a resolution seeking release of Rs 35.5 million for repair of Lithotripsy Machine at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The resolution said the machine had been out of order since September 2018, prompting the hospital management to refer poor patients to other health facilities.
The council approved another resolution regarding approval of transfer of Rs 3.5 million from KMC budget VI-C- 5- (xix) to VI-C-6- (iii) to repair a C-Arm Machine of Abbasi Hospital which had been out of order since August 2018.
It also approved awarding a gate money contract of inter-city bus terminal at Yousuf Goth in Baldia Town. The contract was awarded to Sumair Jan who offered the highest bid amounting Rs 10 million for 18 months period with effect from January 2018 till June 30, 2020.
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