Karachi: Despite implementation of amended Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) Act, political elements routed in Sindh government are trying to undermine. People responsible to run system in Sindh succeeded to get appointed Iftikhar Shah, former PD K-IV as deputy managing director finance in KW&SC.

These people have proved their muscles by posting an engineer by qualification to the post of finance authority, sources told this scribe.

The same system people have openly shaken the seat of the CEO/ MD Engrr. Syed Salahuddin Ahmed. Few days back in evening, political elites getting benefitted from the system decided to replace him with Rafiq Shaikh, another officer eager to grab CEO seat and orders were about to issue when this information leaked to a major political party of Karachi.

This political party resisted the move strongly and indicated for agitation. Ok other hand, getting such information, Syed Salahuddin contacted his string connections in Islamabad and succeeded to avert the situation to save his seat, sources privy to the developments told.

A sitting high official of the corporation is also said to be involved in the move to replace CEO Syed Salahuddin.  Sindh government is already facing strong criticism for posting a junior grade engineer Iftikhar Shah to the post of DMD finance in the KW&SC in clear violation of the Supreme Court directions as well against such posting.  New DMD finance has stopped payments of long awaited dues of the staff while he is paying hefty amounts to the contractors.

First tranche of payments tk contractors is usually made after 10th of each month and second after 20th. Water corporation had already agreed to pay 20 billion rupees every month as dues to employees which are not paid in this month, sources told.

Owing to these developments and employees hue and cry, Mutahida Workers Front CBA has given a 48 hours ultimatum to DMD finance to pay agreed monthly dues to employees, payments of medical bills etc. immediately otherwise they warned of strike in the organisation, it’s further learnt.

When contacted, Irshad Khan, Chairman Mutahida Workers Front CBA told that his union had a meeting with Iftikhar Shah two days before in which he has assured them to release the urgent payments.

They have paid medical bills and to medical stores soon after our meeting. DMD finance also assured us to pay dues of employees and we are waiting for it to happen. We will go on strike if this doesn’t happen, he told.

CEO KW&SC Syed Salahuddin Ahmed and DMD finance Iftikhar Shah were contacted on WhatsApp for their versions but both didn’t respond.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 22 2023

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