HYDRABAD: Muhammad Mubeen Jumani, the Sindh local government minister, announced plans to address the issue of ghost employees by implementing measures such as biometric attendance, salary disbursement through bank accounts, and verification through NADRA. Speaking to a delegation from the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Trade and Small Industry (HCSTSI) at the Hyderabad Club, he acknowledged the need for improvement in the functioning of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) in Hyderabad.
Jumani expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the biometric system to identify employees who consistently attend their duties and those who do not. He assured the delegation that he would revisit Hyderabad to address solid waste management issues and expressed a desire for the people of Hyderabad to recognize his contributions to the city.
Highlighting the financial aspects, Jumani mentioned that the revenue generated by local bodies in Hyderabad primarily covers salary payments. Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) discussed the challenges faced by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in providing water supply and drainage services in the city.
Mayor Shoro emphasized that if public sector consumers of WASA, mainly belonging to the Sindh government, promptly paid their utility bills, it would significantly alleviate WASA’s financial difficulties.
During the meeting, Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani, the chamber’s president, provided a comprehensive overview of the unsatisfactory performance of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), WASA, and Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), calling for corrective measures.
Kashif Shaikh, representing the chamber, underscored the government’s responsibility to initiate low-cost housing schemes for low-income groups. He pointed out the delayed progress of the Gulistan-e-Sarmast project in Hyderabad, initiated around 15 years ago, attributing the delay to the poor performance of HDA. The meeting also saw the presence of Deputy Commissioner Tarique Qureshi, Director General HDA Zahid Hussain Shar, Municipal Commissioner Anees Ahmed Dasti, and other officials.
