Sindh LG dept warns of action if employees’ salaries not released timely

The Sindh local government department has ordered discipline in local councils across the province.

Officials said on Saturday the local government department, recently in a letter moved to the mayor, municipal commissioners and others, said that action would be taken against the chairman and the CMO of the council for not releasing salaries of the employees and pensions of former staffers on the 5th day of every month.

The letter was moved to the mayors and the municipal commissioners of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana and also to the chairmen and chief municipal officers and municipal committees all over Sindh.

The letter reads, “Kindly refer to the subject noted above and to state that various complaints are being received that the salaries to the employees of local councils are not being paid regularly and fully. Hence, in the last year 50 percent OZT share was increased and released to the councils and in this year sufficient amount has also been released for disbursement of salaries, pension and commutation but the employees are facing difficulties for getting their salaries and pension on time.

“It is further stated that numerous cases have also been filed by the employees and pensioners of the Local Councils before the various Court and the Honourable Courts have showed their displeasure in this regard.

“It is therefore directed that all the LCs of Sindh province should ensure utilization of Local Fund of a council in the order strictly prescribed under Section-106 of the SLGA-2013 and salaries and pension of all Local Councils' employees should be paid (as per entitlement), latest by 5th of every month, if the council concerned failed to do the needful, the Elected Representative and Chief Executive of the Council (concerned) should be held responsible and report may be sent to the Honourable Court. This may kindly be assigned Top Priority.”

The copy of the letter was also forwarded to the registrar, High Court of Sindh, Karachi, the additional registrar, High Court of Sindh, Circuit Court, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Larkana, the Additional Registrar, Sindh High Court Bench at Sukkur, the regional director, Local government, Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur divisions, with the direction to monitor and inspect the councils for proper disbursement of salaries, pension, commutation, under Section-87 of the Sindh Local Government Act-2013.