KARACHI, Feb 8: The city naib nazim Karachi, Tariq Hasan, has said the present local government leadership will continue to serve Karachi till its tenure was completed.

He was speaking as the chief guest on the launch of the third edition of the book containing Karachi city council's approved resolutions on Tuesday.

Mr Hasan said the NRB Chairman, Daniyal Aziz, had made it crystal clear that no decision had been taken yet for the appointment of administrators and; therefore, the present nazims would give up charge on August 13, 2005.

Mr Hasan said resolutions had their own importance, appreciating the Gulberg Town for compiling the city council decisions into book shape.

He praised the efforts of Nazim Gulberg Town Farooq Naimatullah, Naib Nazim Usman Baig and Council Officer Mujibur Rehman Khan in this regard.

He pointed out that 18 towns of City District Government Karachi and its 178 union councils were keenly working for the progress and development of the city within their jurisdictions.

The 253-member city council had so far approved 590 resolutions and despite various odds, the fruits of the system introduced by President Pervez Musharraf were reaching the grassroots level, he maintained.

Mr Hasan said it was due to this devolution of powers to the grassroots level that the city government without any discrimination was giving Rs6.4 million to each union council for development; while the federal government had especially approved Rs50 million for a backward town like Lyari.

The ceremony, held at the newly renovated town hall, was also addressed by Farooq Niamatullah, Naib Nazim Gadap Abdul Sattar Jokhio, Naib Nazim Lyari Malik Mohammed Khan, EDO Revenue Mohammed Waseem, Nazim's Special Representative Faizanullah Khan and Presiding Officer Liaquat Ali Khan.

According to the book launched, so far 283 resolutions had been published. Participants described the book useful for those having interest in municipal affairs. - APP