KARACHI, Jan 8: The Nazim of Karachi and chairman of the KWSB, Niamatullah Khan, urged the government on Thursday to provide subsidy to the city government for paying the electricity bills.

He also announced that 257 employees of the water board would be posted against vacant posts soon and employees residing in Karachi but posted at outstations such as Chiliya, Gharo, Dhabeji, Dumloti, Hub and North East Karachi would be transferred to places near their homes.

He was speaking at an Eid Milan-Christmas party held under the aegis of the General Employees Union at the Karsaz Water Board office. The Nazim directed the KWSB administration to take steps for the supply of gas to the Water Board colonies as well as for the revival of sports activities.

He told the gathering that on his request, the President had approved the Rs29 billion package for Karachi out of which Rs13 billion had been earmarked for water and sewerage.

Naimatullah Khan said that despite resource limitations, the city government did not levy a new tax. On the contrary, the city government's budget, which stood at Rs6.5 billion in fiscal 2001-02, had been increased to Rs20.5 billion while during 2003-04, it had been kept at Rs27.5 billion.

He said that because of financial constraints, the city government was facing problems in the payment of power bills and, therefore, the provincial government should give subsidy to it.

Regarding the promotion of B-Tech employees, he said some employees had been promoted and the remaining would be promoted soon. He announced that orders for the transfer of about 250 outstation employees from Towns were being issued while 257 employees restored in service would be absorbed against vacant posts.

On the occasion, the Nazim announced the provision of three buses and three ambulances for the water board and said steps would be taken for supply of cycles to the KWSB employees as were given to employees of the city government.

He directed Chief Engineer Misbahuddin Fareed to take steps for the revival of sports activities in the water board. He also directed DMD Syed Akhlaq Hussain to constitute a committee in consultation with the managing director for transparent disposal of scrap.

He told the gathering that Allah had bestowed "Rizq" for every living being and it was now for them whether to strive for Rizq-i-Halal or Rizq-i-Haram. He said if this awareness was generated, corruption and irregularities would be eliminated from the country. - APP