04 November 2004	Thursday	20 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 3: The City Council which met here on Wednesday with Naib City Nazim Tariq Hassan in the chair discussed the denationalization of the St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's colleges.

It expressed concern over non-release to union councils of Rs6.4 million development funds allocated in the city government budget 2004-05.

The Chairperson of the Education Committee, councillor Ms Shamim Mumtaz Wasi, bitterly criticized the provincial government for issuing a notification with regard to the denationalization of the two colleges, and called the move 'anti-people'.

"The Sindh government has no respect and regard to the resolutions adopted by the city council against the denationalization of these colleges," she regretted.

She maintained that the handing over these prestigious educational institutions to the Catholic Education Board was a violation of the clause 14 and 15 of the SLGO which envisaged the city government's role in running the affairs of schools and colleges.

Siddique Rathore expressed his concern over the withholding of the funds meant for UCs by finance department. "This house passed a resolution and allocated Rs6.4 million for each UC in the budget, but the concerned department is creating hurdles in the way of the release of the funds."

He claimed that there were certain elements behind the moves to sabotage development activities in the city. He called for immediate issuance of directives for the release of the funds.

Abdul Rashid Baig suggested that a house committee be formed to get the problem solved. "All the members will have to join hands to get their due funds," he added.

Later, the house unanimously adopted resolutions condoling the demise of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Mian Sharif, and elder brother of Qazi Hussain Ahmed.-PPI