KARACHI: Conference seeks due facilities for all citizens
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, April 25: The citizens-councillors conference has emphasized the need for strengthening the local government system and immediate constitution of public safety commission.
It criticized the constant increase in the cost of utilities and their pathetic condition.
The view were contained in the resolutions released here on Sunday by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, which had organized the conference on Saturday. The CM's Adviser on Local Government Mr Wasim Akhtar chaired the conference.
Mr Akhtar called for rising above party politics to strengthen the new devolution system. He, nevertheless, admitted that there were some impediments which were being removed.
He referred to the shortage of water and pathetic condition of roads in the city, and urged the city nazim to make use of Rs1,230 million available with the citizens' community boards (CCBs) for improving the quality of life in the city.
The adviser said that councillors would be given honorarium as soon as the summary was approved. The conference, which was also addressed by Karamat Ali, Director of PILER, resolved that participation of all councillors in development projects must be ensured and labour councillors should be given the authority to evaluate the status of labour rights in the industrial units located in their respective areas.
It also demanded that participation of the CCBs and councillors in the planning process be ensured. To oversee the timely completion of development projects, committees comprising people's groups/NGOs/CBOs, labour unions and councillors be formed, it added.
The conference stressed that local governments at all levels should be provided opportunities and extended support in exercising their powers as spelled out in the Local Government Ordinance 2000. It also called for steps to curb unnecessary interference in this regard.
Participants of the conference emphasized that all obstacles in the way of constituting CCBs be removed and the boards be allowed to work in accordance with the rules set out in the ordinance. They demanded immediate formation of public safety commissions in all districts of Sindh with all powers vested in them under the ordinance.
The conference demanded amendments to the Police Order 2002 in accordance with the people's aspirations. Issues emerging from the separation of investigation department be identified and resolved immediately, it said, adding that the attitude of police personnel also be reformed.
One of the resolutions pointed out that the workers' settlements/residential areas in all towns of Karachi were facing a lot of civic and social problems. These areas be provided with all civic amenities and the problems be resolved on a priority basis, it urged. Development projects be prepared and executed for the purpose, it added.
The conference called for immediate and effective measures to overcome scarcity of water, electricity and gas in Karachi. It stressed that the citizens be relieved of load-shedding.
It also demanded that the city's sewerage system be improved on a priority basis; roads be repaired and maintained; public transport system be improved, fares be brought down to affordable level and a periodic monitoring be ensured.
It called for measures to contain environmental pollution resulting from smoke/gas emission and the noise of pressure horns. The participants expressed their deep concern over continuing price hike and demanded tangible steps to reduce/stabilize prices of all commodities.
They called for the creation of new sources of livelihood for the deprived sections of society in the country. The local governments should be empowered to provide micro-credit on easy terms to the needy, and the process to acquire the same be simplified.
The conference urged that unregistered industrial units be accorded legal status through authorized surveys; construction of illegal and multi-storey structures be curbed; all kutchi abadis be given legal status and provided protection; provision of basic amenities in these abadis be ensured and the chowkidari system be reformed.
The conference rejected as 'anti-labour' the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002 and demanded that amendments be made to it in the light of the recommendations put forward by a tripartite moot.
It also demanded that all the citizens, including workers of formal and informal sectors, must be provided social security. It stressed that under the ILO Convention, ratified by Pakistan, all workers had the right to form unions; all senior citizens were entitled to old-age benefits/pension; and all industrial and commercial institutions were bound to disburse minimum wages to their workers.
