26 April 2005	Tuesday	16 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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FAISALABAD, April 25: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (City) has reportedly deputed two private persons as coordinators to run its publicity campaign and monitor development projects. The decision is being questioned by councillors who say the authority has scores of members of monitoring committees and councillors for the purpose.

Sources said City Tehsil Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema deputed Mohammad Rafi, proprietor of an advertising agency and TMA’s alleged defaulter of over Rs1.75 million, as coordinator of the publicity and advertisement branch. Mr Rafi is liable to pay the outstanding dues on account of advertising tax on hoardings installed by his agency in posh areas like Batala Colony, Satiana Road, D-Grounds, Jaranwala Road, Civil Lines, Madina Town, Jail Road and People’s Colony.

Instead of taking appropriate steps for the recovery of dues from the Rafi advertising agency, TMA authorities have deputed its proprietor as coordinator. Similarly, another advertising agency run by a relative of Mr Rafi is also TMA’s defaulter to the tune of Rs2.31 million.

The office order issued by the city tehsil nazim, inter alia, says: “In the best interest of the TMA Faisalabad City, Mr Rafi has been deputed to check the publicity/advertisement boards installed in the city. He will examine all procedure of such installation of boards, banners, neon-signs, will work on my behalf as coordinator, ensuring that there is no irregularity anywhere in the procedure adopted. He will also supervise recovery of dues from defaulters and directly bring to the notice of undersigned all such issues.”

Through another office order, the nazim deputed another ‘outsider’, Mohammad Amin, as coordinator of TMA’s engineering branch for monitoring development work executed in city’s three major union councils.

Office order says: “Amin has been deputed to be the honorary coordinator (temporary) with the TMA staff of the engineering branch. He will look after the development procedures relating to union council Nos 240, 241 and 242 in Faisalabad city, ensuring that there is no irregularity in the procedure adopted and compliance from the public sector.

He has also been empowered to monitor the development works, ensuring that the work done at the site is in accordance with the standard specifications. Besides, he will also be responsible for bringing issues relating to the development directly to the notice of the city nazim.

The above duties assigned to Amin are purely in the public interest and he will not be compensated or claim any honoraria/compensation in this regard”.

Meanwhile, a number of TMA councillors, including Muhammadpura Naib Nazim Abdul Hafeez Bava and Gulistan Colony Naib Nazim Sarfraz Guddu, termed this step of the city tehsil nazim unjustified.