KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Monday decided to construct a new council hall near Nipa Chowrangi.

Official sources said that the decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by KMC Administrator Dr Syed Saifur Rehman. They said that a committee had been formed in this regard under the chairmanship of the municipal commissioner.

The administrator said that the existing council hall was facing lack of space for the newly elected members and this hall was constructed 92 years ago in 1932, the seats of which were increased from time to time.

“All former mayors, deputy mayors, administrators, municipal commissioners, DCOs and directors of the council will be invited to the foundation lying of the new council hall so that all these personalities along with special guests will be present on the historic occasion,” he added.

The administrator said that he would request the provincial government to provide special funds for the construction of this council hall so that its construction could be completed as soon as possible.

He said that the number of council members to be formed in future would be 364, while the capacity of seats in the council hall located in the main office of KMC was 310.

The number of seats in the hall, built in the iconic building of the city’s municipality in 1932 with only 57 seats for members, have been increased from time to time.

In 1960, there was a change in the LG system, and the number of seats was reduced to 58, but it was later increased to 103 in 1966. In 1979, a new local government system was implemented in the country, so the number of local government seats in Karachi became 166.

In 2001, the new municipal district system came into force, the number of council members increased to 255, for which there was not enough room in the hall, therefore, in December 2004, the city council hall was renovated and the number of seats was increased.

Municipal Commissioner Shujaat Hussain, Director General Technical Services Syed Azhar Ali Shah, Director General Parks Junaidullah Khan, Senior Director Media Management Ali Hasan Sajid, Director City Warden Raja Rustom, Senior Director State Sumeira Asif, Senior Director Imran Siddiqui, Director Council Abdul Rab, Team leader USAR Humayun and other officers attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2023