KARACHI, Sept 19: The City Council on Tuesday urged the Sindh government to establish a research and development department in the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases (KIHD).

Chaired by Niab Nazim Nasreen Jalil, the council adopted a unanimous resolution tabled by treasury benches, saying although the KIHD was made an autonomous body under the existing by-laws after delegating all powers to its governing body, it was without a research and development centre essential in modern times.

It stressed the need for making legislation.The resolution lauded the efforts of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for making the KIHD functional by taking administrative measures by providing jobs to 340 employees on contract basis and purchase of equipment worth Rs120 million and building an operation theater at a cost of Rs 20 million.

The KIHD was established by the former City Nazim Niamatullah Khan in 2004 to provide low cost treatment to the poor and middle classes.

The Opposition tried to insert the name of the former City Nazim in the resolution as recognition of his services and for this purpose, Al-khidmat Group leader Rafique Ahmed also submitted a resolution, but their efforts could not succeed.

An uproar was witnessed in the house when Opposition members credited the former Nazim for establishment of the KIHD. The chair had to repeatedly intervene and to ask the house members to maintain decorum. Opposition leaders Saeed Ghani, Rafique Ahmed, Saifuddin and Mohammad Islam, Mohmmad Ismail Brohi and others who took part in the debate charged that treasury benches were trying to take credit for a project which was conceived by the former Nazim.

They reminded the house that a building was acquired and equipment worth million had been purchased and doctors were also appointed and the City Council approved its governing body and by-laws.

They regretted that a summary was sent to the provincial government for the approval of doctors and other staff which were approved in 2006.

The Opposition members said they would not hesitate to accept the positive steps being taken by the treasury benches for the welfare of the people, but at the same time we expect that they should not distort fact.

Treasury leaders Asif Siddiqui, Masood Mehmood and Abdul Jalail and others stressed the need for exercising tolerance and creating a better understanding and said that time should not be wasted on petty issues.

A resolution, moved by the treasury benches, expressed concern over the situation arising out of monsoon rains due to defective planning which caused great inconveniences to the people, and lauded the efforts of UC nazims, naib nazims and councilors who worked day and night for addressing their problems.

The resolution said it was because of their efforts that there was no rainwater in the city and work on mega projects was in progress. The council urged the councilors to submit their proposals for the execution of funds meant for union councils in the budget of 2006-2007.