KARACHI: Contractors have threatened to protest over the non-payment of dues by Administrator District Council Karachi and Deputy Commissioner Malir district.
Dozens of contractors were promised by the Administrator District Council Karachi that the dues will be paid and a summary has been sent to the Sindh government for approval. Both the administrator and the provincial government have suppressed the matter and not released the funds.
The files of contractors who had completed their projects from January-March 2020 have not been completed due to coronavirus imposed lockdown earlier this year.
The deputy commissioner has now declared the dues as accruals (liabilities) which have worsened the situation for contractors. It may be mentioned that approval is taken from council before the funds are issued but the administrator is using delaying tactics in the release of funds.
In this regard, Builders and Contractors Association leader Wajid Khan said the district council and officers of Sindh Local Government Department have been delaying payments of commission to contractors on flimsy reasons.
He said local government bodies do not have sufficient funds but the amounts for tenders of the district council are lesser, therefore the matter should be addressed by the Local Government Department.
He demanded that the Finance and Local Government Department should clear all dues for the contractors or else they will be forced to protest for their demands.
