Sindh’s Local Government Minister, Saeed Ghani, has instructed officials to ensure that ongoing development projects in Karachi, part of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), are completed by the end of the current fiscal year. This directive primarily focuses on projects where 100% of the finances have already been released.
The Minister issued these orders during a meeting with senior officials from the provincial Local Government Department and its associated agencies. Ghani reviewed the progress of key projects under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Karachi Development Authority, Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation, Malir Development Authority, Lyari Development Authority, CLICK, and SWEEP.
Expressing frustration over delays, Ghani questioned the pace of construction and the use of funds. He criticized municipal and civic officials for failing to deliver on time, especially after full financial backing from the provincial government. He stressed that such delays tarnish the government’s reputation and worsen the challenges faced by the public.
Ghani also noted that the previous Sindh government budget had no new uplift projects, focusing instead on completing existing ones. In response to these concerns, Ghani tasked the Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Government Department, Syed Khalid Hyder Shah, with compiling a report on all development schemes that had received full funding.
He also set a December 15 deadline for approval of any pending projects, ensuring that work can begin without further delay. The Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in these projects and warned against any compromises on quality.
He also convened a separate meeting to address issues related to local government councils, including the waiver of fees for birth and death certificate issuance, a measure introduced by the Sindh government.
Ghani called on regional directors to ensure that union councils comply with the waiver and report any discrepancies. Furthermore, Ghani directed officials to compile comprehensive reports on the staff and salaries across all local councils and committees in the province, warning against any violations of the Local Government Law, especially concerning payments to elected councilors. He also urged officials to report any signs of corruption or irregularities.
