Not paying salaries to sanitation staff reeks of corruption: HCSTSI

HYDERABAD:

The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI) President Muhammad Saleem Memon expressed concern over the non-payment of salaries to the employees of the Hyderabad Water and Sanitation Corporation (HWSC) for the past eight months, despite the government of Sindh having released an amount of Rs175 million for it.

He condemned the situation as a glaring example of poor governance and unacceptable negligence, arguing that even during sacred occasions such as Ramazan and Eidul Fitr, the affected employees were unable to meet basic needs of their families, turning this issue into a humanitarian crisis.

Memon further stressed that this situation is also concerning for citizens and the business community who play a vital role in supporting the financial structure of the institution.

President Memon noted that HCSTSI, representing the city's business community, has continuously been overlooked from the Board of Directors of critical institutions like the HW&SC. Instead, individuals with no experience in urban planning or financial management have been appointed to the board. He argued that such exclusion has led to increasing corruption and mismanagement, with a growing perception that the business community is being intentionally distanced from institutional decision-making in order to conceal financial irregularities and prevent transparency.

Memon stressed that the HW&SC has the potential to become an autonomous, profitable and transparent organisation provided the involvement of honest and competent stakeholders. He confidently stated that if HCSTSI is given representation on the Board of Directors with the authority to exercise powers with integrity, the organisation's financial position could be significantly improved within just three years.