Almost 120,000 employees of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and its subordinate departments are going to pay charges for the newly formed unregistered "Karachi Citizens Participation Trust" (KCPT). The trust was apparently formed to arrange funding for future development projects of the metropolis and to assist/advise City Nazim and government regarding any development works.
For which Syed Mustafa Kamal had started collection of funds voluntarily from CDGK employees, but most of the employees have taken it as an additional burden on them. Talking to Business Recorder, employees of various departments expressed their unwillingness to submit the amount as they were already facing difficulties to run their kitchen.
"We have received the forms "Voluntary Contribution Form" asking for the amount of Rs 5, 50, 100, 500, or higher than that per month," an employee from the Finance department said adding that in the form the account number of the contributor has also demanded for the deduction of the amount from the monthly salary.
"Why we should pay for such trust which is even not registered and we do not know in which account this amount is going to be submitted," he added.
Another employee of Master Plan Group of offices alleged that this was another tactics to steal money from the employees who are even not being given their salaries in time. This was another attempt to collect money from the people after the failure of "Public utility Charges" introduced by the city government, he alleged.
The Nazim had no legal authority to demand the amount from about 125,000 employees of the city government to establish such trust, he said adding that the government's plan to deduct at least Rs 5 per month from each employee was not fair as it was supposed to be purely a donation on voluntary basis.
"Though the move is a voluntary, but the employees are confused that they may face dire consequences if the contribution is not made," said another employee from Malir development Authority.
According to sources the short notification and required forms had been distributed among the heads of all department of the CDGK, including the subordinate departments like Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Karachi Building Control Authority, Lyari Development Authority, Malir Development Authority, and all Town municipal Administration.
It is to mention here that the City Nazim had earlier said that prominent personalities would be on its board and they would have the power to decide the fate of the city's development projects and arrange funding for them.
Beside, none of the government officials including the city nazim would have any involvement in the affairs of the trust.
The proposed trust is said to be solely run by those who were not associated with any political or religious party. The town nazims have also been asked to make necessary arrangements for the trust.