KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has warned that coercive action will be taken against director general of the Karachi Development Authority and others for not complying with its orders about payment of pensionary benefits to retried employees.

A two-judge constitutional bench of SHC headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon noted that it was constrained to direct chief secretary Sindh to initiate disciplinary proceedings against DG KDA and other delinquents.

It also directed them to comply with its earlier orders in letter and spirit about full payment of the benefits to petitioner, observing that “complete compliance has not been made”.

Some retired employees of KDA had petitioned the SHC in 2024 seeking directives for KDA and other respondents for payment of their pensionary benefits. They had later filed contempt applications against the DG and other officials of KDA for flouting court orders.

The bench in its order noted that in August last year, the court had categorically directed the respondents to ensure payment of outstanding pensionary dues to petitioners within two months failing which contempt proceedings to be initiated against them.

SHC orders full payment of post-retirement dues; asks alleged contemnors to appear before bench in person

It also observed that an interim compliance report has been filed by the KDA stating that the authority has been facing a longstanding financial crisis.

It asserted that billions of rupees have already been paid to around 1,407 retired employees of KDA in respect of post-retirement benefits in pursuant to the earlier orders of the SHC.

The report also maintained that the finance & accounts department of KDA, in a letter dated Jan 13, has suggested some measures to address financial shortfall, including enhancement of monthly payment for KDA from finance department Sindh and one-time grant of Rs3,000 million was also under process with the department.

It further suggested that KDA has revised land transaction rate and expected to generate additional revenue in order to improve its fiscal position. The report stated that officers of the authority held the judiciary in highest esteem and has no intention of disobeying its orders.

The bench in its order said: “However, as full compliance has not yet been made effected, in such circumstances of the case, coupled with the issue of pensionary benefits of petitioners, which is of paramount consideration, this court is constrained to direct the chief secretary Sindh to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the director general, KDA and other officials of the respondents and in case of non-compliance, coercive measures shall be taken against the delinquents”.

It directed the DG and other officials of KDA to comply with its earlier orders for full payment of pensionary benefits.

The counsel for KDA had maintained that due to financial constraints the respondents were unable to make full payment and offered to pay a further 10 per cent within one week. However, the bench inclined not to accept such proposal and directed the alleged contemnors to turn up in person at next hearing.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2026