The employees of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and its subordinate departments are unwilling to contribute money from their salaries to the newly formed "Karachi Citizens Participation Trust" (KCPT). According to sources the city government employees argue that why should they pay an amount per month from their salaries to a trust which is not even registered.
The sources claimed that the employees were given "Voluntary Contribution Form", asking for the amount of Rs 50, 100, 500, and 1,500 or higher than that per month. Account number had also been sought in the form for the deduction of the amount from monthly salary, they added.
The trust was apparently formed to arrange funding for future development projects of the metropolis and to assist/advise the City Nazim and the government regarding any development works. Talking to Business Recorder, employees of various departments expressed their unwillingness to give the amount as they were already facing difficulties to meet their household expenses.
"We do not know in which account this amount is going to be deposited," an employee of defunct KDA said, adding that this was another tactic to fleece money from the employees who were even not given their salaries on time. Another employee from Master Plan Group of offices alleged that this was another attempt to collect money from the people after the failure of "Public Utility Charges" introduced by the city government.
The Nazim had no legal way to demand the amount from about 125,000 employees of the city government to establish such a trust, he said, adding the government's plan to deduct at least Rs 50 per month from each employee was not fair as it was supposed to be purely a donation on voluntary basis.
"Though the move was a voluntary, but the employees are confused that they may face dire consequences if the contribution is not made," said another employee from the Malir Development Authority. According to sources a short notification and required forms had been distributed to the heads of all department of the CDGK, including the sub-ordinate departments like Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Karachi Building Control Authority, Lyari Development Authority, Malir Development Authority, and all Town Municipal Administrations.
It is to mention here that the City Nazim had earlier said 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 was also solely to be run by those who were not associated with any political or religious party. The town nazims had also been asked to make necessary arrangements for the trust.