KARACHI, May 17: The Sindh government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged issuance of an NOC by the KMC administrator while he held the post of district coordination officer last year that allowed a local oil refining and marketing company to set up a fuel station in Landhi in violation of the defined rules.

The Sindh services, administration and coordination department asked the chairman of the inquiries and anti-corruption establishment to investigate the complaint lodged by a Korangi resident and file its report within a week.

Mohammed Jamil Shahid had approached the municipal and provincial authorities earlier this month with the complaint against the then DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed, who is currently serving as the KMC administrator.

The complainant alleged that the Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited had been allowed to establish a petrol pump and a gas station on two plots (126 and 127) measuring 1,304 square yards in Deh Sharafi, Nek Mohammad Goth, Landhi. He said the plots were part of the KDA master plan and not of the katchi abadi where the local administration asserted its authority.

“The actual area of one plot is 640 square yards and under the KDA master plan its address is ST-1 (SC-3), Sector 20, Korangi Industrial Area,” said the complainant, requesting the chief secretary to order an inquiry.

“Under the KMC and explosive rules, the said plot cannot be used for fuel station services. Another sheer dishonesty is that the plot under the KDA was shown in the KMC goth areas for the NOC.”

The complainant also attached a copy of the certificate issued in October 2011, allowing the Byco Petroleum to set up a ‘retail outlet in Deh Sharafi Nek Muhammad Goth, Landhi town.’

Mr Shahid also accused the owner of plots for having connived with the relevant officials in the process.

The complaint attracted immediate response from the chief secretary and he ordered the probe, seeking its report within a week.

When the matter was officially brought to the notice of the KMC administrator, he immediately responded to it and wrote a letter to the Karachi commissioner.

In his letter to the commissioner, Mr Syed denied having issued the certificate last year. “It is pointed out that the undersigned was not holding office of DCO CDGK (city district government) on 17-10-2011,” stated the letter.

“It is further informed that the signatures on the so called NOC are forged, fabricated as I have never signed/issued such NOC on 17-10-2011 of thereabout. Since the said NOC is not a genuine thus warrants urgent action by the commissioner Karachi as now this subject is being dealt with by the office of commissioner Karachi.”