Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday directed the chief secretary to form an inquiry committee to identify ghost employees in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
The direction to this effect was given by PAC Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro when it was revealed in the meeting that there was no biometric mechanism for the attendance of over 12,000 KMC employees.
Apprehending that millions of rupees were being spent monthly on ghost employees of KMC, the PAC sought the records of all KMC employees. The meeting, held to review the audit reports of KMC from the year [Insert Year] 2018 to [Insert Current Year], was also attended by committee members Khurram Soomro and Qasim Siraj Soomro, KMC Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, and other officers.
There is no biometric mechanism for the attendance of over 12,000 KMC employees; this was confirmed by heads of KMC departments who stated that their employee’s attendance roll were checked only through manual registers while a biometric system has not been installed. The municipal commissioner said these are genuine working individuals.
Mr. Khuhro emphasized, “Ghost employees and the practice of taking salaries from home will no longer be tolerated in KMC. Stricter actions must be enforced.” Khurram Soomro shared that some KMC workers engage with officials to receive work elsewhere by ‘palming off’ office duties. He suggested digitalizing employee data as a method for identifying those working multiple jobs and taking strict action against them._emphasize the necessity of such measures, ensuring accountability within KMC.
Mr. Soomro also addressed concerns about potential misuse in grave allocations: “In graveyards too, there have been instances where alleged ghost employees are involved.” However, he clarified that official fees for grave registration only amount to Rs 300._emphasize the integrity of KMC operations.
Published in Dawn on November [Insert Date] [Last Updated Year].
