HYDERABAD, Feb 4: The City Nazim, Hyderabad, Haji Moinuddin Shaikh, here on Monday appealed to the government to release Rs19 million immediately as the city taluka was in the grip of financial crisis and it had not even been able to pay salaries to its employees.

Speaking at a news conference at the city council office he said that after abolition of the octroi duty, the government had fixed the share of city taluka at Rs16.9 million but after the at source deduction, only Rs12.6 million were given to the council. After the announcement of the new pay scales, Rs19 million was needed only to pay the salaries of the employees.

He said that he had already informed the Sindh Governor through a written letter as well as the minister for local government during his recent visit to Hyderabad about the prevailing situation.

The council had introduced new tax schedule and if hundred per cent recovery was made then it would come to Rs32.5 million. He, however, added that even 50 per cent recovery could not be made under the heads of rent and other taxes.

He pointed out that the total deficit came to Rs6 million per month for which the local taxes would have to be increased by 200 per cent which was not possible as the people could not bear more taxes.

Mr Shaikh further said that the city taluka was also obliged to pay salaries to the employees of Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas including oil and other expenses whereas the recoveries from these two talukas were negligible.

He said that the council had launched a programme to generate its own income. The council would adopt strict measures against the occupants of the council’s properties who had refused to pay the rents. These properties would be reclaimed, he added.

In this connection the building of Elite Cinema, which had been in illegal possession of a party for the last 17 years, had been taken back and the occupants had been ejected. This property had been given on lease for 90 years which had expired on Oct 15, 1985.

HDA: The organizer of All Pakistan Organizations of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Hyderabad district, Mohammad Fayyaz Awan, has demanded of the Sindh minister for local government to terminate the services of the inefficient HDA officials and to hold an inquiry against them for dereliction of duty.