Officials smell a rat at KMC

KARACHI: The presence of rats inside the 83-year-old yellow-sandstone Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) building, which stands regally on MA Jinnah Road, is not only haunting its staff but also the city council’s record of resolutions and proceedings since 1960 stored inside the building, which is at risk of being nibbled away.

A letter —a copy of which is also available with The Express Tribune — has been written in this regard by city council director Ghufran Ahmed to the KMC’s municipal services director.

According to the letter, the council secretariat has stored resolutions of the city council from 1960 onwards which are provided when required by various departments of the KMC or members of the general public.

Sometimes, the letter states, the honourable courts demand production of those resolutions in various litigation matters. However, due to the presence of rats inside the council secretariat, this ‘precious’ record is being adversely affected; along with various electronic items like microphones, computers, printers and UPS systems.

“If action against these rats is not taken, the chances of damage to the council’s valuable records cannot be ruled out,” the letter reads.

It is further mentioned that the council hall, which was recently renovated for the newly-elected local government in the city, is also at risk as wires of the mic system installed in the hall have been damaged by the rodents.

Ahmed told The Express Tribune the record at stake is very valuable, adding that the new microphone system is also an expensive feature for which protective measures need to be taken.

Meanwhile, KMC’s municipal services director, Masood Alam, said fumigation has already taken place at the building and the issue would be resolved soon.

Recently, with a special grant of Rs20 million from the Sindh government, renovation work on the hall was finally completed after which the seating capacity of the elected members of the local government was enhanced from 255 to 320. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2016.