Local govt minister visits city depts, penalizes employees for tardiness

Ghani made surprise visits to KDA, KWSB

KARACHI: Sindh local government minister Saeed Ghani directed authorities on Saturday to issue show cause notice to Director General Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and other officers for remaining absent from work on Friday.

The minister, following his surprise visit, ordered deduction of a day's salary of staffers who remained off duty on Friday. On the occasion, he also demanded a probe into DG LDA holding nine different departments and that he should submit a report to justify his position.

Ghani also visited the offices of Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KWSB). Director General KDA Samiuddin Siddiqi, who was absent from office and was visiting the Green Line Bus Rapid Transport project, was summoned and immediately reported to the minister at KDA. Among these visits, Ghani also visited the Command and Control Center (CCC) at Civic Centre and examined its operation. He maintained that the government is making efforts to meet the 100mgd target for the port city.



In a high-level meeting at KWSB, he cautioned officers to maintain punctuality. Addressing the media at KDA and KWSB, Ghani highlighted that his foremost priority is to resolve Karachi's water crisis, adding that plans for a desalination plant to make seawater potable were underway. He also prohibited illegal constructions across the city and that "action" shall be taken against those who are responsible for such an act.

During the KWSB visit, he was informed that several employees were absent due to ongoing trials in courts. Suspended KWSB employees were called to Ghani's office where he told them that he would look into the matter.



The minister warned that he would continue to make surprise visits to any local government department to monitor progress, therefore all employees should perform an 8-hour duty every day, failing which officers shall "face the music".

He also ordered LDA and KDA to install biometric systems within a day and follow up with a report. Speaking on the matter, he further expressed reservations that several places in cantonment boards aren't owned by KWSB and urged the judiciary to take notice of the matter.

'Conspiracy' against Zardari, Talpur

Ghani affirmed that accountability was crucial and that he had no objection over the formation of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs).

However, he communicated that proceedings against top Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur are conspiracies and media trials. He questioned also as to why any firm would indulge in money laundering for a 'few million' through a cross cheque.

He questioned the credibility of the media for providing news without authentic names as well as the role of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA).