KARACHI, Jan 18: The DCO Secretariat has refused seven tenders of parks and beautification plans of the city government as these were scheduled to be floated on Tuesday.

The tenders pertained to the City Government's plan of beautification of Seaside area, as well as underneath several flyovers.

However, the process has now come to a halt following issuance of a letter to the district officer (parks and horticulture) by the DCO office whereby the former has been instructed to postpone the plan on the plea that complaints of irregularities have been received.

Giving no fresh date, the DCO office letter stated that a new date would be announced later. Terming the decision of postponing tenders "unjust" and "uncalled for", sources said such an action amounts to creating obstacles in the city government's plan of undertaking beautification works.

It seems if the Sindh government does not want the CDGK to undertake development works and develop parks in the city, sources said and in support of their contention, they said the provincial government first made sudden transfers of EDO Works and Services, Shoaib Siddiqui and district officer Parks and Horticulture Liaquat Ali Khan early this month as both the officials were implementing the City Nazim's policies, vis-à-vis development plans.

Isn't it amazing that senior officials of the CDGK are being dislodged at a time when a large number of development works, such as construction of roads, flyovers, pedestrian bridges, bus shelters and development of 19 more parks are either already under way or in the process of being initiated, the sources remarked, saying as a matter of fact such an action on the part of the Sindh government would create unnecessary delays in executing these developmental activities.

In another development, the DCO has issued a letter to the recently transferred DO (parks and horticulture), Liaquat Ali Khan, asking him to report to the local government department to avoid further disciplinary action under rules.

Referring to Sindh government's Services, General Administration & Coordination department's order No. SO1 (S&GAD)3-13/2005 of Jan 12, whereby the DO Parks was suspended and asked to report to the provincial local government department during his suspension period, the DCO office letter to the DO on Tuesday inter alia stated: "It has been reported that despite orders of the government (dated Jan 12), you are continuing as DO of parks and horticulture using all facilities, including office, transport, etc., of the post of the DO (P&H), CDGK and have not yet reported to the local government department, which is a clear violation/disobedience of the orders."

Sources in the CDGK expressed dismay over the issuance of letter to DO Liaquat Ali Khan, and said the Nazim's Secretariat came to know about his suspension through the DCO office letter of Jan 18 while such an action was reportedly taken by the S&GAD on Jan 12.

Moreover, isn't it surprising that the decision on postponement of tenders and suspension of the official were taken at a time when the City Nazim is in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, the sources remarked.