KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh Red Crescent Society needs to be rejuvenated so that it could pursue its objectives actively.

This wake-up call has been made in the recommendations of the governor’s inspection team headed by S.A. Nasir, a retired brigadier, which was tasked to prepare a report on the last 10 years’ working of the society.

The inspection team, which was assigned the job in September last year, has submitted the report along with its findings and recommendations to the governor.

According to its charter, the board of directors comprises besides president, its chairman and six members nominated by the governor while other six members are elected on a panel basis besides one member from each district.

Informed sources told Dawn that the report shed light on some important points, such as allotment of shops, rooms and clinics located on the premises of the secretariat at unimaginable price. For example from its clinic the rent is being charged from Rs3,600 to Rs6,000 per month while the packages firm which has in its use full one floor had been rented for Rs62,943 per month only.

The Sindh Medical Centre which is in possession of half of the building has been allotted for a rent of Rs132,000 only.

There is no record whether the condition of 10 per cent upward revision in rents every three years has been charged from the tenants or not.

Likewise, among the officials no one appears to take care of the investment made by the society in building a medical complex with 97 shops in Orangi as according to the terms of condition, each shop would be sold at Rs35,000 but its amount is yet to be reimbursed.

Besides, six motor vehicles received in donation do not appear in the inventory register. In a similar manner no record is available whether its property tax, water and sewerage charges and electricity and gas bills are being regularly paid or not.

Surprising aspects of revelation are that during the year 2000 the society secretariat spent Rs1,314 on drugs for the poor and the needy while it spent Rs32,000 on entertainment and over Rs0.13 million on general expenditures including eight phones installed at the secretariat.

The three-floor secretariat, located at a prime location in Clifton, during the year 2000 generated income from rents of its premises to the tune of Rs4.7 million only.

Dr Fatima, who is a tenant of seven rooms on the first floor, three rooms on the ground floor, six shops in Pharmacy block, three rooms in main office block and covered parking area since 1984 has been paying Rs84,550 per month only while rental income from its 73 rooms, six shops, 10 doctors clinic is only Rs0.13 million per month. The Sindh Medical Centre has been in occupation of half of the secretariat building against Rs132,000 per month only.

One member of the board of directors, Dr Munawwar Hussain, who is also director of the medical centre, has been occupying its house built for the residence of its full-time secretary.

The present board of directors of the Red Crescent Society was last elected in 1998.

The recommendations of the governor’s inspection team say that the society’s board of directors be reconstituted and tenants be charged after revaluation of its entire rental value on the prevailing market rates.