Civic bodies’ pensioners go unpaid

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued show cause notice to the Sindh Local Government Department secretary over his failure to respond to the summons for the hearing of a petition against the non-payment of pension and benefits of the retired employees of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

A hearing was held before a two-member bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto on the petition against the non-payment of pension and benefits of the retired employees of KMC.

Karachi Administrator Dr Saifur Rehman and officers of KMC and the district municipal corporations (DMC) and others appeared in the court. The petitioner's counsel submitted that the KMC itself is an institution that made DMC and other municipal bodies.

The Supreme Court had ordered KMC to pay the pensions of retired workers within two weeks, but the corporation did not follow the directives, the petitioner said adding, "retired employees have been visiting KMC offices concerned for their pensions and benefits for the past five years."

The counsel for KMC counsel submitted that the employees have retired from the Sindh Local Government Department, therefore, it should be responsible for their pensions and benefits.

The court expressed ire over the absence of the local government secretary and issued him show cause notice directing him to ensure attendance on the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2023.