The new management of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has been able to sanction a raise of at least 15 percent in the house rent allowance, Pakistan Today has learnt, giving the disgruntled water utility’s employees a sigh of relief after almost seven years.
The KWSB employees have long been demanding the former City District Government Karachi (CDGK)’s administration regarding the raise in their house-rent allowance but it turned down the request.
However, after the restoration of old commissionerate system in the province and restoration of city’s old status of five districts, the new management of the utility has swiftly sanctioned a 15 percent raise in house rent of at least 13,000 of its employees from the Sindh government, well-placed sources told Pakistan Today.
The water utility management, headed by acting chairman MPA Haji Munawar Abbasi, approached the Sindh government and got the move sanctioned, applicable to all the employees from Grade-1 to 20 from July 1.
In 2004, former city mayor Naimatullah had increased the house rent of the employees of the CDGK and all its linking departments from 45 percent to 60 percent except the KWSB.
Ever since the Muttahida Qaumi Movement left the coalition government, many changes have taken place at various Sindh government departments.
After the Sindh government took over the management of KWSB, one of the major issues being faced by the employees of bringing their house-rent allowance at par with the CDGK employees (60 percent) has been immediately resolved.
“The house-rent [allowance] of KWSB employees has been increased from 45 percent to 60 percent and they would get the increased amount in their salaries of August,” confirmed Abbasi, while talking with Pakistan Today at his office. “The demand of KWSB employees has been addressed and they would get a little relief in terms of salary increase through house-rent,” he added.
