KARACHI, Dec 8: Sindh Chief Secretary K. B. Rind has instructed the departments of public health engineering, buildings & roads, communication and the City District Government Karachi to conduct a survey, after Eidul Fitr, of all dilapidated buildings and roads in Karachi and interior Sindh requiring repair and restoration and take special measures for their care and repair.
He issued the instructions while touring Karachi on the eve of Eid. He expressed concern at the dilapidated condition of residential buildings in old city area, Ranchhore Lines, Ramaswami, M. A. Jinnah Road and adjoining areas. He was surprised to see that people were living in precarious buildings which had outlived their utility.
He inspected one track of the road from Gulshan Chowrangi to Abul Ispahani Road and was satisfied with the work. He, however, instructed the KWSB to locate the seepage there and arrange its repair without delay.
Mr Rind also instructed the KWSB for urgent installation of a desalination plant and other projects prepared to overcome water shortage in the city.
He was of the view that first, residents of dilapidated buildings be persuaded to carry out repair, and such buildings as were found to be weak after repair legal course be adopted for their demolition.
He also took serious notice of sewage overflows in many parts of the city and called for a report from the KWSB in this regard within a week for their rectification.
He said he would call a meeting of all the departments and organizations next month to launch a comprehensive programme for providing maximum facilities to the people and stressed that he would not tolerate any hurdles or compulsion in this connection.
GOVT EMPLOYEES: The chief secretary has assured low-paid government employees of providing them a reasonable service benefit system with a view to undertaking a line of action for promotion under which employees working in lower grades (Basic Pay Scales) could be promoted to BPS-17 at least.
He was talking to delegations of various social associations, which called on him under the leadership of Masood Zaidi, in connection with Eid greetings.
Mr Rind explained that a policy was under review to bring the Sindh government employees on a par with government employees of other provinces, especially facilitating them with the means of promotion, so that employees in ministerial service could be promoted up to BPS-17, on the basis of merit, seniority, ability, fitness and good conduct.
The chief secretary said the government had taken notice of the exploitation of workers in the private sector as it had been reported that the majority of them, including females, were being paid Rs 1,500-Rs3,000 a month.
He was of the view that traders’ organizations such as the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries should also realize the problems of workers and do the needful.—PPI/APP