KARACHI, Jan 5: All officers and employees of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) have been given one month to “mend their ways or face stern action”. Contractors and consultants of various development projects have also been asked to follow the schedule of work and quality to escape appropriate action while DCO and EDOs have been told to go for checks and balances for accountability of their subordinates to recommend “jaza aur sazaa” (reward and punishment).

The carrot and stick policy was enunciated to by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal who, during a meeting of EDOs at the Civic Centre here on Saturday, expressed his extreme displeasure over the performance of almost all CDGK departments and many of their officers and officials.

He issued directives for strict action against any official showing lethargy and not taking immediate action on public complaints.

He observed that public complaints against all CDGK departments had become common while officers and other employees stayed away from their places of duty. “Attention is not being paid to resolution of the problems being faced by people and departmental counters on the ground floor of Civic centre for the purpose are also not functional,” he told the meeting, adding that desired progress was not being made in the work on uplift projects because of inattention on the part of the officers concerned.

The nazim directed all EDOs and departmental heads to activate their respective departments within a month and create a “work culture”. He said everyone must be in his office on time, remain present during his duty time and discharge his duties in an efficient manner and with due interest to entertain and remove public complaints.

“If they did not mend their ways within a month, they would have to face strict action,” he warned, adding that those found efficient and doing their jobs with interest would be encouraged.

Mr Kamal also observed that contractors and consultants were not fulfilling their responsibilities.—APP