KARACHI, April 11: Inordinate delay in the release of funds has pushed the Saddar Town municipal administration into a financial crisis, it is learnt. The situation has been causing great resentment among employees, particularly those belonging to low-income group, due to late payment of their salaries. The crisis has also affected uplift works on the ongoing projects.

When contacted, Town Nazim Mohammad Farooq Memon Faria conceded that salaries could not be disbursed to the staff in time as the town administration was facing a serious financial problem.

“We are unable to clear dues of the contractors who have ultimately stopped work on development projects,” he said. The nazim said there had been an amount of millions of rupees outstanding against the city government and payable to the Saddar Town administration on account of property tax, trade licence fees, conservancy and betterment taxes, etc.

Gravity of the situation could be realized from the fact that the administration had now become unable to meet even day-to-day administrative expenses.

The nazim has urged the CM’s adviser on local government to direct the city government to resolve the issue.