May 21, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1429

KARACHI, May 20: In an attempt to defuse the tussle between Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal over the exercise of authority in certain institutions, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Tuesday brought them to the negotiating table where it was decided that the transfer orders of the managing-director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, director-general of the Malir Development Authority and the project director of the Lyari Development Authority would be put on hold till further orders.

During the meeting, sources said, they also decided that all contentious issues between them would be addressed with mutual understanding.

The crisis of confidence between the local government minister and the city nazim erupted when on April 24 the minister issued a notification by which the KBCA and the KWSB were reconstituted and the city nazim was removed as chairman of the two bodies.

Later, the Sindh government by a notification removed the KBCA controller Rauf Akhtar Farooqui and named Manzoor Quadir as its new chief controller. The city government termed the Sindh government notification illegal and notified the KWSB and the KBCA as the 15th and 16th groups of offices in the CDGK.

Soon after this development, the city nazim had left on a two-week official visit to the United States and after his return from the visit the two were invited by the governor for a meeting for creating a working relationship between them.

The meeting also reviewed the on-going development projects in the province, particularly in Karachi, and the local government’s performance.

The governor issued necessary instructions for attaining better results and timely completion of projects with quality work.

Dr Ibad recalled that all efforts of the government were aimed at providing better facilities to the common man and as such joint efforts should be continued.

On the occasion, it was mentioned that both the city and provincial governments were working for the development of the city and, in principle, there was complete harmony on all issues.

The provincial minister and the city nazim assured the governor that their cooperation would continue for the progress of the city and the province and all issues would be addressed with mutual understanding.