Change after change: Karachi regains its 26 sub-divisions

KARACHI:

The Sindh government restored on Friday the 26 sub-divisions of Karachi, completing the process of implementing the commissionerate system along with the local government system of 1979. Earlier on, the five districts of Karachi were restored by appointing deputy commissioners.

With Friday’s decision, Karachi gets back its administrative position and revenue demarcations that existed on 13 August 2001.

According to the notification issued by the revenue department, assistant commissioners will soon be appointed to head these restored sub-divisions.

It could not be ascertained if the latest move by the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government had the consent of its major coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is opposed to the commissionerate and the local government systems of 1979.

This latest development, however, comes as the coalition struggles to agree on a future framework for local government. The PPP and MQM have both publicly claimed to have agreed on certain points. But, sources say that deadlock persists with none of the coalition partners willing to show flexibility on their stand.  Sources said that another round of talks between the PPP and MQM was scheduled for Saturday, but they were postponed due to an MQM commitment.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2011.