Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) has relieved with immediate effect as many as 96 'delinquent' officers (BS 17 & 18) of their present places of posting, asking them to report to the office of Director Personal Human Resource Department & Administration (HRD&A).
The action has been taken in the light of the findings made by a committee. The committee was constituted by the Supreme Court-mandated former SC judge Justice Hani Muslim-led Water Commission under Secretary Sindh Local Government Department to carry out service structure scrutiny of the record of KW&SB employees. The water utility has issued two separate lists comprising its 96 officers who have been relieved from their present postings, due to their 'failure' to comply with service rules and responsibilities.
According to a notification issued by KW&SB on December 26, 2018, "Your name includes in the list printed over leaf as delinquent officers who failed to comply with the above, hereby stands relieved from the present place of posting, to report in Director Personnel Office of HRD&A KW&SB forthwith to summit complete service record i.e Personal File - Service Book in original along with 04 set of the copies of required documents covering face sheet, failing which salaries thereof to be withheld unless complied, (E&D) proceedings shall be initiated under rules, also report will be conveyed to the Honorable Water Commission/ Scrutiny Committee GoS."
It is relevant to mention here that the Water Commission is actively involved in finding the reasons behind the failure of the authorities in order to ensure clean drinking water and improve sanitary conditions in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, for the last one year.
Sources familiar with water network said the commission has taken remedial measures ensuring equal distribution of water by removing illegal water hydrants from various neighborhoods of the city.
They said KW&SB and other civic utilities after the intervention of the judicial commission appeared active, showing efforts to fulfill their statutory responsibilities. On November 29, 2018, the sources recalled that the commission expressed its resentment over KWSB for showing indifference to installation and maintenance of around 1200 water flow meters. The water utility was found to showing reluctance to disclose details related to the distribution of water across the city.