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Sugar woes highlighted at council session

* Treasury demands KESC directors be put on ECL

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The City Council in its session on Wednesday discussed various public issues with special attention to the prevailing sugar and power crises, while the issue of Nisar Baloch’s murder was also raised.

Leader of the House Muhammad Asif Siddiqui said that the federal government had announced import of sugar at a rate of Rs 65 per kg, which was to be provided to the general public at a subsidised rate of Rs 40 per kg.

However, he questioned why the people were still deprived of sugar, and who received the subsidised commodity.

Arshad Qureshi of the treasury benches also raised the issue of the sugar scarcity and said the Punjab government has ensured sale of sugar at Rs 40 in the province, but the people of Karachi, a city that contributes a major share to the national exchequer, have been left without this essential commodity.

Sarwat Arif of the treasury benches termed the current sugar crisis as a grassroots level matter that should be addressed by the city government on priority basis.

Syed Tahavvur Rifat of the treasury benches said the citizens were compelled by some utility stores to buy goods worth Rs 500 so that they could be entitled for purchasing of sugar. Jamaat-e Islami’s Al-Khidmat Group leader Rafique Ahmed claimed that citizens were not being allowed to buy sugar at the utility stores, as crowds of men had occupied the stores allowing only people they know to buy sugar.

KESC: Treasury benches’ Abdul Jalil said on a point of order that the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) was still resorting to load shedding by delaying the purchase of furnace oil.

Jalil further said the KESC was directly concerned with the people of Karachi so its affairs should be transparent for public and until that is achieved, the KESC’s directors should be placed under the exit control list.

The House further discussed the issue of the withdrawal of 134 union council secretaries. Jalil alleged that it was a conspiracy against the Haq Parast leadership, adding that the Sindh Local Government Department (SLGD) had directly asked the concerned banks to freeze the UC funds, which would affect its municipal and other activities during the forthcoming Eidul Azha.

The treasury benches demanded SLGD to withdraw the notification immediately, JI AKG member Imran Baghpatti and Pakistan People’s Party’s Awam Dost Group Deputy Opposition Leader Yousuf Naz claimed that SLGD had not issued any direct orders to banks for freezing the UC funds. However, Naz informed that the town municipal officers were issued letters with instruction for onward action.

PPP ADG deputy opposition leader Jumman Darwan on a point of order said Nisar Baloch was killed because he had been active against the illegal occupation of Gutter Baghicha.

Darwan demanded the PPP and MQM to ensure complete protection of the Gutter Baghicha land from the land mafia so that further killing should be prevented. He also demanded that the murder of Nisar Baloch should be investigated under the auspices of a high level committee.

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