KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Saturday demanded that the Sindh government transfer administrative charge of town municipal corporations (TMCs) to elected local government representatives who, it said, did not even provide offices and vehicles till date despite taking oath.

Speaking at a press conference held at Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that corruption was rampant in the name of transition period as people from interior of Sindh had been posted in local governments through unfair means by removing local officials.

Talking about the local government budget, he said that the budget document for the local government set-up had been approved by the previous administrator in backdate, which was not acceptable at any cost.

The JI leader demanded that the government convene the budget session of the City Council and get the budget approved by the council as per the law.

He also demanded due share of Karachi in the motor vehicle tax and the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) award.

He said that the PPP government had reportedly granted a contract worth Rs800 million for cleaning of storm-water drains but nothing was done in this regard as there were threats that upcoming rain spells might submerge Karachi suburban areas.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2023