KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has exhorted newly elected mayor and deputy mayor of Hyderabad Mun-icipal Corporation, chairmen and vice chairman of towns of Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Sujawal, and Tando Allahyar districts to work hard for resolving civic issues so that people may feel the difference.

The chief minister said in a meeting with Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, Rehana Leghari, Zaheer Pitafi, Deputy Speaker Dost Ali Jesar, Sadiq Memon, Mayor Hyderabad Muni-cipal Corporation Kashif Shoro and Deputy Mayor Saghir Qureshi and chairmen and vice chairmen of the towns on Thursday that they had to give ownership to their cities and towns and work for their genuine uplift. 

He said that the major issues of the cities and towns included water, sanitation, cleanliness and encroachments while the issues of local bodies were ghost employees, double employment and pension.

“You have taken up your positions and now you have to improve conditions in your towns by establishing efficient governance so that the actual purpose of the local governments can be achieved,” he said.

Mr Shah said the local bodies were passing through a transition phase during which arrangement for offices, distribution of resources and employees and determination of limits would take place. “But, during the transition phase all the local bodies are fully functional and you [chairmen and vice chairman] have to work for people,” he said.

Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro discussed with the chief minister issues of sewerage, pumping machines and water supply problems. As far as the performance of Wasa was concerned, the chief minister said the mayor must make it an efficient agency.  

The elected representatives of Thatta and Sujawal proposed that the chief minister hand over sweeping of streets, lifting of garbage, and cleanliness work of their towns to Sindh Solid Waste Management Board.

On this, the CM directed secretary of local government to prepare a proposal for extending services of the board to Thatta and Sujawal for his approval. 

He directed the local government department to arrange offices for the chairmen where they were required. 

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2023