The district coordination officers (DCOs) in all remaining districts of the province will assume the additional charge of district administrators with the exception of Karachi, it was decided on Tuesday. This was decided at a meeting, presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister’s House, on various issues arising out of the revival of the local government system.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani, Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran, Local Government Secretary Ali Ahmed Lund, Law Secretary Ghulam Nabi Shah, Secretary to Chief Minister Alamddin Bullo and Kaiser Bengali among others.
Various issues pertaining to follow up, implementation and persuasion of matters regarding local governments were discussed at the meeting. It was decided that the Karachi administrator will remain posted while the DCOs of all other districts will be given the additional charge of serving as administrators. Taluka Municipal Administrations (TMAs) will be revived and officers posted/notified for the talukas. Funds to complete the ongoing schemes within stipulated time will be released on priority basis for the developmental schemes throughout the province.
The finance secretary informed the meeting that ‘Account 4’ has been restored and funds will be released as per requirements. The chief secretary said the posts of commissioners and deputy commissioners have been abolished and notification will be issued.
Regarding magisterial powers to curb the menaces of hoarding essential commodities and illegal profiteering, it was informed that a letter has been sent to the federal government through the Sindh Law Department and necessary amendments in CrPC will be issued accordingly.
The chief minister said that the old local government system of 2001 will be followed strictly and maintained that there should be no delays in the implementation of government programmes, particularly the developmental works. He also directed the departments concerned to follow the instructions of the government in a proper manner.
