Accountability tactics: Municipal accounts go online
Sindh lawmakers want to show taxpayers how they are spending the budget.
DESIGN: SUNARA NIZAMI
KARACHI:
The Sindh government announced on Tuesday that it will launch a website to give a penny-by-penny account of every transaction carried out at the municipality level.
The website will include statements showing how the Town Municipal Administrations (TMAs) Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) utilised their budget.
"We will update every financial transaction on the website being launched soon," promised local government minister Sharjeel Memon during the Sindh Assembly session. "People will see how the money is utilised against the budget in every district," he explained. "This is the first time we will be introducing this idea, which is being developed with the help of the information and technology department."
Memon held the former nazims of union councils responsible for the deteriorating affairs of the local bodies in the province. "They have given nothing except corruption and mismanagement," he claimed.
The minister was responding to speeches made by the MPAs on a resolution moved by opposition leader, Shaharyar Mahar, who had demanded that the funds provided to town municipal administrations be utilised for the purpose they are meant for.
"Most of the schools and hospitals run by the local government have been encroached upon since the tenure of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf," Memon pointed out. "We are making efforts to evacuate this illegal occupation." According to Memon, all powers have been devolved to the commissioners and deputy commissioners to keep an eye on the local government matters in their respective areas.
"Around 40 per cent of octroi zila tax share goes towards the salaries of the employees and 60 per cent goes towards development," he pointed out. "Unfortunately, in most TMAs, the entire budget is spent on the employees' salaries due to over-employment," he said, adding that most of the employees fail to come to work but still receive their salaries on time.
Memon spoke about his year-long cleanliness drive that, according to him, is being led by the TMAs. "We have received significant results," he boasted. However, his claims were shot down by the opposition, which believed the campaign was a mere publicity gimmick. Mahar moved his resolution pointing out that Memon was just holding a 'jharoo' in his hands and posing for the media. "Let us know why your jharo does not work in most areas of rural Sindh," said Mahar.
Mahar claimed that there is an outbreak of diseases as the local government is not bothered to lift garbage. "We only see streets littered with trash," he said. "We have a huge budget but we lack the government will to utilise it."
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's Nand Kumar agreed that the PPP government has turned Sindh into another Moen Jo Daro. Rafique Banghan of the same party informed the House about a town municipal officer in Faiz Gunj, Khairpur Mirs, who comes to office with police and private security. "He threatens the media of dire consequences as he boasts of his involvement in two horrific murders," he said. "Why have these criminals been appointed in government jobs?"
During the debate, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Mohammad Hussain also stressed the need to hold the local government elections without any delays. However, none of the other MQM MPAs followed suit.
Mahar's resolution against the cleanliness drive was rejected by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party members. "This resolution holds the Sindh government responsible for not utilising the budget," said parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2015.
The Sindh government announced on Tuesday that it will launch a website to give a penny-by-penny account of every transaction carried out at the municipality level.
The website will include statements showing how the Town Municipal Administrations (TMAs) Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) utilised their budget.
"We will update every financial transaction on the website being launched soon," promised local government minister Sharjeel Memon during the Sindh Assembly session. "People will see how the money is utilised against the budget in every district," he explained. "This is the first time we will be introducing this idea, which is being developed with the help of the information and technology department."
Memon held the former nazims of union councils responsible for the deteriorating affairs of the local bodies in the province. "They have given nothing except corruption and mismanagement," he claimed.
The minister was responding to speeches made by the MPAs on a resolution moved by opposition leader, Shaharyar Mahar, who had demanded that the funds provided to town municipal administrations be utilised for the purpose they are meant for.
"Most of the schools and hospitals run by the local government have been encroached upon since the tenure of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf," Memon pointed out. "We are making efforts to evacuate this illegal occupation." According to Memon, all powers have been devolved to the commissioners and deputy commissioners to keep an eye on the local government matters in their respective areas.
"Around 40 per cent of octroi zila tax share goes towards the salaries of the employees and 60 per cent goes towards development," he pointed out. "Unfortunately, in most TMAs, the entire budget is spent on the employees' salaries due to over-employment," he said, adding that most of the employees fail to come to work but still receive their salaries on time.
Memon spoke about his year-long cleanliness drive that, according to him, is being led by the TMAs. "We have received significant results," he boasted. However, his claims were shot down by the opposition, which believed the campaign was a mere publicity gimmick. Mahar moved his resolution pointing out that Memon was just holding a 'jharoo' in his hands and posing for the media. "Let us know why your jharo does not work in most areas of rural Sindh," said Mahar.
Mahar claimed that there is an outbreak of diseases as the local government is not bothered to lift garbage. "We only see streets littered with trash," he said. "We have a huge budget but we lack the government will to utilise it."
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's Nand Kumar agreed that the PPP government has turned Sindh into another Moen Jo Daro. Rafique Banghan of the same party informed the House about a town municipal officer in Faiz Gunj, Khairpur Mirs, who comes to office with police and private security. "He threatens the media of dire consequences as he boasts of his involvement in two horrific murders," he said. "Why have these criminals been appointed in government jobs?"
During the debate, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Mohammad Hussain also stressed the need to hold the local government elections without any delays. However, none of the other MQM MPAs followed suit.
Mahar's resolution against the cleanliness drive was rejected by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party members. "This resolution holds the Sindh government responsible for not utilising the budget," said parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2015.