9 local government officials sent packing over ‘inefficiency’

Seven building inspectors from planning wing expelled from department

LAHORE:

Two zonal officers and seven building inspectors of the Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) Department have been expelled from the planning wing and their services have been placed at the disposal of the Municipal Corporation Lahore (MCL) over inefficiency charges.

A spokesperson for the department said measures have been initiated on the directives of Caretaker Minister for Local Government Amir Mir to address issues of incompetence and corruption in the LG&CD Department.

Under the supervision of LG&CD Secretary Dr Arshad Ahmad, lists of incompetent and negligent employees are being prepared.

As the first punitive action, nine officials have been expelled from the department including Assistant Zonal Officer Sumaira Chohan from Allama Iqbal Zone and Zonal Officer Irum Altaf from Wagah Zone.

Both officers were serving in grade-17 in the planning wing, while Sumaira Chohan had an additional charge of the Nishtar Zone.

The seven building inspectors expelled from the department were part of the planning wing, and they were serving in Wahga Zone, Nishtar Zone, Shalimar Zone, and Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Zone.

The services of Wahga Zone's Building Inspectors Ali Shahid and Arslan Jamil, and Nishtar Zone's Tariq Saeed and Ismatullah, have been placed at the disposal of the MCL. Additionally, Shalimar Zone's Building Inspectors Ahsan Raza and Ali Raza have also been instructed to report to the MCL.

The services of Aziz Bhatti Zone's Building Inspector Muhammad Yasin have also been placed at the disposal of the MCL. All of these officers were found to be involved in unauthorised constructions and other illegal activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2023.