LG dept rejects KMC promotions

Anti-Corruption Dept summons promoted employees to record their statements

KARACHI:

The Sindh Local Government Department has rejected all employee promotions from Grades 5 to 16 within the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), despite prior approval by Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab. The Department has also recommended the reconstitution of its Scrutiny Committee to further examine the process. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Department has expanded its investigation into the matter.

According to official sources, a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) had been constituted within the KMC to promote long-serving employees. Acting on the committee's recommendations, Mayor Wahab had approved the promotion of 118 employees, after which the Human Resource Management (HRM) Department issued their promotion letters.

However, complications arose when the Additional Director Local Fund Audit (ADLFA) assigned to the KMC declined to process the next-grade salary payments for the promoted employees. The ADLFA cited a letter dated September 27, 2024, issued by the additional chief secretary of the Local Government Department, which raised serious concerns over the transparency of the promotion process. The letter directed the KMC to establish a Scrutiny Committee to review the qualifications and eligibility of the promoted employees and submit a detailed report.

In light of these instructions, the ADLFA refused to acknowledge the HRM Department's promotion orders until the Local Government Department provides explicit direction. A similar intervention had occurred during the tenure of former Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar, when the promotion process was halted in April 2021 through a comparable directive.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Department has intensified its probe into the promotions. It has sought complete records, including educational certificates and personal files, of the 118 employees recently promoted. The investigation was initiated following a complaint by an Anti-Corruption Department driver, Wasim Khan, who alleged that favouritism and personal recommendations had influenced the promotions over merit-based considerations.

The Anti-Corruption Department has summoned the promoted employees and members of the Departmental Promotion Committee to appear for questioning and to record their statements.