House passes by-laws, approves construction of multi-storey residences for market employees.
PHOTO: FILE
The resolutions were passed during a session of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) on Tuesday which was chaired by deputy mayor Tariq Mehmood.
As the session started, union council chairman presented the litany of public complaints from their respective union councils.
The UC chairmen also objected to the demand of including the name of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) representatives to plaques for projects completed by the local bodies.
Rawalpindi Mayor Sardar Naseem Khan assured UC chairmen that all work will be undertaken in consultation with them and that no one will be allowed to interfere in their work.
A resolution was also tabled against the directive of the Punjab Local Government Department’s chief engineer who barred local bodies from issuing tenders for development projects, even those which were to be funded by the local bodies themselves.
PTI Union Council Chairman Azhar Iqbal Satti tabled a resolution against a directive from the Punjab Communication Minister to transfer control of the Pir Wadhai Bus Stand to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). He stated that the bus stand was an asset of the RMC and must stay with the local body and that they can approach the Supreme Court over the matter.
Seeking control: RMC, Punjab govt gearing up to clash this week
Mayor Naseem added that they will work to turn the bus stand into one of the most beautiful stands in the city.
He further added that work on the library and slaughterhouse projects will be completed.
The House approved the resolution for keeping the bus stand with the municipal corporation, and against the interference of the Punjab local government department in the developmental schemes of the RMC and decided to issue the tenders for projects worth more than Rs500 million.
The RMC session also approved the construction of multi-storied residences for employees of the commercial markets. By-laws of the city was also approved.
With the concept of public call offices (PCOs) now defunct, thanks to the universal permeation of mobile phones, the RMC decided to declare all PCO cabins in the city as encroachment and called for their demolition. Some of these empty cabins were being encroached by individuals to sell garments and even general items of need while they were also obstructing traffic.
During the session, the municipal corporation tabled and passed a resolution condemning the vindictive action against Benazir Bhutto Hospital’s (BBH) Dr Areeba Abbasi. Dr Abbasi, the daughter of former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Hanif Abbasi, was transferred to the skin diseases department alleged under pressure from the Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat.
The house also criticised BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Tariq Niazi for buckling under threats from the provincial minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2018.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ