KARACHI: The Sindh Local Government Board has completed an inquiry and taken action against three officers of the District Municipal Corporation (KMC) responsible for illegal advertisements and receiving bribes.
Secretary Local Government & House Town Planning Khalid Chachar has issued letters to the officers on the orders of imposing Penalty and Punishment under the Efficiency and Discipline rules 1973.
The officers who have penalized are Waqas Ali Soomro (Superintendent BS-17), Muhammad Iklaq (Superintendent BS-17), and Fazal Abbas (Inspector BS-11). They were issued a charge sheet and an inquiry was held on 27th November, 2020, which proved the charges and they have been punished accordingly.
The board decided to deduct Soomro any increment for two years and block his promotion for five years, while the others will penalized by deduction of three yearly increments and promotion for five years. The officers had also been banned from any keeping any post in the Advertisement Department in District East and South and have also demoted to their previous grade.
The officers were responsible for allowing illegal advertisement, hoardings and banners on major roads and thoroughfares in the vicinity and causing massive losses to the exchequer.
Illegal outdoor advertisements have been placed on a busy road in DMC South in violation of rules and regulations. In November, it was reported that Abdul Ghani who was recently appointed as Outdoor Advertisement Director in DMC South has allowed placing outdoor advertisements without issuing the required receipts.
The officers been receiving a sum of one million rupees per month and have allowed the placing of two outdoor advertisements on a high-rise building on Main 26th Street in Clifton area causing a loss of Rs. 21 million to the department.
Fazal Abbas is also among the officers responsible for illegal advertisements in Jamshed Town and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Commissioner Karachi had directed all the deputy commissioners (DCs) to remove all the billboards installed at public properties and ensure the implementation of the orders of the Supreme Court.
