LAHORE: A war of words has started between the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) managing director (MD) and the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) over jurisdiction of both the authorities and affairs of the company.

The LWMC MD blames the DC, who also heads LWMC boards of directors (BoD), for intervening in operational affairs of the company without any lawful authority. The situation is upsetting thousands of sanitary officials and workers who have started protesting against the city administration for allegedly disturbing them on the pretext of checking their presence in the field, Dawn has learnt.

“Everything was going on smoothly. But for the last many days, we are really very upset due to city admin officials who are after us on the pretext of checking our presence in the field,” said an LWMC official. “We know why they are after us. But this is disrupting our work,” he added.

The issue started after DC Saleha Saeed – an officer of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) 34th common – issued directions to the LWMC MD Khalid Nazir Wattoo – a 32nd common PAS officer– through letters regarding various issues. This irritated Mr Wattoo, who in response to the letters, termed behaviour of the DC harsh and unethical.

“This led to inviting ire of the DC, who allegedly directed her team members (all five ACs) to start visiting the city, check presence of the sanitary staff and send reports with pictures and videos to her on a daily basis. At present, the city admin is sharing such reports with the Chief Minister’s Office and other authorities concerned in a bid to defame the company,” claimed another official.

According to a letter of May 11, the DC sought the status of the dispute resolution committee report on payment/refund to vendors from the LWMC, directing the company’s MD to take action in this regard.

“Office of the LWMC chairman/deputy commissioner has taken serious notice of the undue and unnecessary delay/laxity on the part of the LWMC in completion of dispute resolution committee report. Despite repeated reminders by the representatives of the undersigned and considerable extension in time—from April 17 to May 1—an incomplete report was submitted for perusal on April 30,” reads the DC’s letter.

“This displays unprofessional attitude on the part of management of LWMC and concerned departments whose documents were missing from the list of annexure submitted with the report. It is directed to submit reply regarding the undue delay and lack of response by the management of LWMC for completion of the report,” seeks the letter.

In another letter on May 11 (same day), the DC wrote another letter, quoting a letter from a Turkish contractor regarding refund of deductions about master pick-ups. “It was settled the deductions carried out regarding master pick-ups by LWMC were unjustified as no evidence was provided to the contrary. However, to date no official progress on the aforesaid matter has been observed despite a lapse of considerable time–April 17 to May 8. So it is directed to submit reply regarding abovementioned subject within a week positively,” it reads.

On May 13, the LWMC MD responded to the letters and snubbed the DC for using the word ‘directed’ to an official senior to her.

“Before I reply to your concerns mentioned in the letters, let me remind you that under rule-4 of the public sector companies’ rules-2013, role and separation of positions of chairperson and MD have clearly been enumerated. In clause 2 (C) of the subject rule, it is clearly mentioned that chairman/chairperson shall not be involved in day to day operations of the public sector company. In section 3 of the same rule, it is enumerated that the chief executive (MD in case of LWMC) is responsible for the management of public sector company and for its procedures in financial and other matters. In light of these rules, the DC in no capacity (even as chairperson of the company) is supposed to issue any such letter,” it explains.

“Secondly, my office has not sent you any report. Any report, if submitted to you, must be from the office of convener of the committee, who is your subordinate. When I have not addressed you any letter containing any report, in what capacity can you direct me to submit anything and use the harsh words ‘unprofessional attitude’ addressed to LWMC MD. If there is anything unprofessional, it is on the part of the person who has sent you report and not on my part.

“Lastly, I am two years senior to you. I, in the capacity of MD, am reporting to the secretary (local government). Use of above harsh words and use of words “it is directed to” is highly unethical and without any authority. I must advise you to go to through laws/rules first and keep in mind ethics of senior and junior before writing such letters,” the letter warns.

An official source termed the situation not good.

“The workers have started protesting. On Wednesday, they staged a demonstration outside the press club against the officials, especially the Raiwind AC for his rude behaviour at work. The assistant commissioners are following orders of their boss to make the LWMC zonal officers and workers feel panicky by checking their presence in field during odd timings. The district administration never intervenes in the abovementioned matters of the LWMC and the recent developments are unprecedented,” he claimed.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Lahore DC denied that the city admin was targeting the LWMC staff.

“There are cleanliness issues in various parts of the city. That’s why the ACs have been assigned the task to check and ensure presence of the sanitary staff in field at 6am daily. They are also sending reports with pictorial and video evidence to the Lahore DC on a daily basis,” the spokesman explained.

The Lahore DC was not available for comments.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2019