LG dept asked to resolve pay, pension issues

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the Local Government and Finance Departments to conduct a comprehensive assessment aimed at resolving the persistent issue of timely payment of salaries and pensions of local government employees, which has been hindered by the presence of ghost employees and pensioners.

Acknowledging the significance of a motivated workforce, CM Shah stated, "I am committed to enhancing the local bodies' share by allocating additional funds from Octroi, Zila Tax, and other grants. However, it is imperative that the local bodies themselves explore avenues for generating their own revenues."

The chief minister's guidance was provided during a meeting attended by key officials, including Minister of Local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Acting Chief Secretary Baqaullah Unar, Secretary Local Government Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Special Secretary Finance Shuhab Ansari, and others.

Underlining the need to safeguard employees' financial well-being, CM Shah emphasised the importance of the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) in ensuring timely salaries and pensions. He affirmed, "Employees can only perform their duties effectively when they receive their due compensation on time."

Local Government Minister Nasir Shah urged the local councils to establish robust mechanisms for budget approval, explaining, "The passage of budgets should guarantee the allocation of funds for salaries, pensions, and essential development projects. However, despite these allocations, issues related to salaries and pensions persist."

He further noted that the department has initiated efforts to transfer surplus employees from one town to the newly established towns governed by the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO).

In order to maintain balanced staffing levels across all towns, CM Shah directed the Local Government Department to ensure appropriate allocation of staff resources for the newly formed towns, emphasising the need to avoid overstaffing in any particular area.

Moreover, the chief minister instructed the Finance Department to propose the constitution of the PFC, which would pave the way for the determination and announcement of the next financial award.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2023.