Accepting its failure during recent heavy downpours, the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) on Thursday suspended three senior officers and issued show-cause notices to another nine officers, Pakistan Today has learnt. CDGK Municipal Services Executive District Officer (EDO) Masood Alam was among the officials suspended and was replaced by Dr Shaukat Zaman, a BSP-20 SCUG Services officer.
Insiders told Pakistan Today that the orders were issued by Karachi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Muhammad Hussain Syed, after a detailed meeting with Revenue EDO Ghanwar Leghari, Enterprise and Investment Promotion EDO Dr Saifur Rehman, Dr Zaman and town administrators.
The three senior officials suspended from their services for negligence in making arrangements for recent rains are Municipal Services EDO Alam, Corridor-II Additional District Officer Qazi Abdul Waheed and Visal Ansari, the sources said The officers issued show-cause notices are Works and Services District Officer (DO) Nasim Alam Rizvi, Nisar Ahmed Memon, Ghulam Sarwar Chachar, Ansar Hussain Zaidi, Ibrahim Baloch, Zafar Baloch, Sikandar Ali Afghan, Additional DO Tariq Ansari and DO-II Shabiul Husnain, they added.
The DCO, meanwhile, also constituted a three-member inquiry committee, comprising Finance and Planning EDO Aamir Khursheed, Revenue EDO Leghari and Revenue Additional EDO-II Matanat Ali Khan, to investigate into the purchases and payments made during financial year 2010-2011 in Machinery Pool, Urban Search And Rescue, Fire Brigade and Solid Waste Management departments of the Municipal Services Department, the sources added. “The committee has been authorised to call all relevant records from the departments concerned and submit recommendations within one week.”
Meanwhile, at a meeting in CDGK head office, DCO Syed maintained that officers responsible for showing negligence or carelessness in public service works would be relieved from their posts.
According to a statement issued by CDGK, he added that extensive fumigation campaigns have been started and all town administrations must ensure complete and thorough sprays in each and every area within their jurisdiction, especially where chances of breeding for mosquitoes are rife.
The DCO directed the Works and Services EDO to assess all locations in the city that remained unsatisfactory during recent rains to ascertain the exact position.
Syed also urged that town administrations inspect the cleanliness conditions in their areas and arrange immediate removal of garbage from roads and sewerage lines.