KMC seeks bailout package from Sindh government

SHC summons provincial secretaries in personal capacity over unpaid pensions of KMC employees

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court summoned on Wednesday the provincial chief secretary, finance and local government secretaries in personal capacity at the next hearing of a plea pertaining to non-payment of pensions and unpaid dues to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's retired officials.

During the hearing, KMC officials presented a report pertaining to the huts on Hawkes Bay and other properties of the KMC.

The report stated that the huts are a source of revenue for the metropolitan corporation but the money that may be gotten by selling them would not be enough.

According to the report, other residential plots owned by the KMC are under the use of police and other defence agencies, some of them have been rented out to petrol pumps, and some residential bungalows are in the use of KMC officials.

The KMC moved the court to direct the provincial government to issue a special grant for the payment of dues and pensions.

The court remarked that the provincial government should consider providing a bailout package to the KMC, similar to the Rs24 billion package doled out by the federal government for retired officials of Pakistan Steel Mills.

The court summoned the Sindh chief secretary and finance and local government secretaries in personal capacity at the next hearing on January 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2020.