HMC maiden session passes budget of Rs4.0013b
Shops on the main commercial street of Qasimabad, Hyderabad closed on Sunday during a strike call. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
The maiden session of the newly elected local government representatives of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), held at Sindh Museum on Tuesday, passed Rs4.0113 billion budget for fiscal 2023-24.
The first session, held after its twice postponement, could not be organised at the HMC session hall because of its small capacity.
The newly elected Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro presided over the session, presenting a five-point agenda for the day; introduction of the members, approval for the fiscal budget 2023-24, forming the council's committees, desilting of the drains before rainfall, and tabling two resolutions. Interestingly, the budget was hastily approved without much debate in a house predominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) LG representatives.
During the session, councilors of the PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) exchanged slogans against each other. Addressing the session, the mayor expressed gratitude to the citizens of Hyderabad for giving him a heavy mandate. He assured that he will serve the city and will undertake the development works, utilising all his capabilities.
He offered an olive branch to the PTI led opposition, giving them his word about cooperation in the service of the people. The two resolutions passed on the occasion condemned the desecration of the Holy Book in Sweden and the May 9 attacks on the army's installations in Pakistan allegedly by supporters of a political party.
TMC Paretabad
In an intriguing and delayed contest to elect the chairman and vice chairman of Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) Paretabad of HMC, the council members elected PTI's chairman and PPP's vice chairman. A one-on-one contest on the seat of chairman was witnessed between PTI's Suhail Khan Jahejo and the PTI's defector Adnan Rasheed, who was supported by the PPP.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2023.