Sindh government suspends 1,841 'ghost employees' of KMC

Says action would also be taken against such employees in departments including KWSB as well

KARACHI: The local government department of the Sindh government suspended 1,841 'ghost employees' working in the education department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Tuesday. 

Speaking to media, Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said he had issued directives to administrator Karachi Roshan Ali Shaikh to complete a detailed report about ghost employees working in different departments within 15 days and refer their cases to the anti-corruption department.

“These employees were appointed from grade 1 to 17, and with their removal government can save up to Rs600 million on an annual basis,” he said.

The action comes days after the FIA had revealed there was an entire family of ghost employees in the KMC education department that was drawing salaries of up to Rs700,000 every month.

Read: Embezzlement of funds: ‘Family of ghosts’ drawing salaries from KMC, says FIA

Memon, while referring to green, clean and peaceful Sindh campaign started by his department in February this year, said, “I had already announced this campaign would not confined to cleanness drive, but those ghost employees drawing their salaries without performing their duties would also be removed.”

He said majority of the employees fired were primary school teachers who had never attended a single class since their appointment.

The local government minister added that not only would action be taken against ghost employees in the KMC, action would also be taken against such employees in other departments, including the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.