Notification of devolution of powers to DMCs delayed

Karachi
A notification of the transfer of powers related to local taxes, health, education and garbage-lifting from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to the six district municipal corporations of the city is likely to be delayed for a couple of days.
This was disclosed to The News by Metropolitan Commissioner Samiuddin Siddiqi at his office on Wednesday.
He linked the delay to a petition over local taxes pending in the Supreme Court, and said before that local the tax department could not be transferred.
Siddiqi said: “Once the verdict of the apex court comes, the devolution of powers to the DMCs will be notified in a couple of days.”
The decision comes following the August 19 meeting held between top KMC officers and the administrators and of the district municipal corporations on the devolution of administrative powers.
When asked recently if the DMCs had refused to take over those responsibilities unless they came along with all facilities, including the salaries of staff and the Octroi Zila Tax (OZT), Siddiqi denied any such thing happened, and said the responsibilities were being transferred with all facilities. Replying to a question, he said lifting garbage was also a responsibility of the DMCs.
The metropolitan commissioner said laws for the transfer of the responsibilities were passed two years ago and being implemented now.