KARACHI, Sept 8: The visiting Balochistan Local Government Minister, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Sherwodi, leading a 13-member delegation was briefed about the overall performance of Sindh Local Government Department here on Wednesday.

Sindh Local Government Commission's director-general Mir Nasir Abbas informed the visiting minister and his delegation that the Sindh commission was maintaining strict vigil on local government system and the performance of Nazims in 16 districts of Sindh was being kept under review off and on.

He said that the commission was set up in July 2002. Since then, he said, the commission had received 689 complaints against UC Nazims and other authorities concerned. As many as 295 complaints were redressed while action was in process on 394 complaints, he added.

Mir Nasir said that most of the complaints were received from Karachi and half of them had been disposed of. In this regard, he said that Orangi Town Nazim was suspended on charges of financial irregularities and other cases of corruption. He also referred to a dispute continuing with the Karachi Nazim, who had been summoned before the commission.

He told the delegation that in order to widen the scope of commission, a proposal for appointing District Mohtasib was under consideration. This step would help in having an effective monitoring at local level and complaints thereof would be redressed on the spot, he added.

The Balochistan Minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of Sindh commission and suggested that powers under local government should rest with the provinces as for the success of local government system there was a need for effective liaison among the provinces. Among others, the briefing was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Mohammed Saleem Khan and Additional Secretary Ghulam Arif. - APP