Karachi:Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KS and SB) administration has approached to Sindh Government regarding grant-in-aid to KW and SB amounting to Rs,1,536,14 million.
In the wake of health emergency declared by the Government of Sindh due to outbreak of (Covid-19) Corona virus all over the country including the megacity of Karachi, the Government of Sindh has locked down the entire province of Sindh by way of preventive measures.
As a result of situation and in pursuance of this office letter No. KWSB/DMD/F/2020/292 dated 13.03.2020 as well as the directives of finance department, government of Sindh communicated through letter No. FD/B and A9ACC) Misc/2019-20 dated 23.03.2020, the competent authority of KW and SB controlled its all monthly expenditure intelligently and suspended all payments, other than payment of salaries and pension, till further orders and/or until the health emergency is existed.
Sources said that normally the monthly average recovery of KW and SB is around Rs.820 million out of which of which a sum of Rs.566.870 million is paid to employees and pensioners on account of salaries and regular pension per month. In addition to above, a sum of Rs.201.20 million is also required to be paid on account of medical facilities and other O and M (operational and maintenance) expenses of KWSB.
However, as against average monthly collection of Rs.820 million, KW and SB could be able to collect only a sum of Rs.32.00 million till to date despite taking all possible efforts. The massive decrease in KW and SB collection is mainly caused due to announcing the relief by the Sindh Government in payments of water and sewerage bills to the consumes of KW and SB (that includes residential, commercial and bulk consumes) on account of locking down the city of Karachi aimed at to prevent its peoples suffering from Covid-19 corona virus.
Contrary to the above facts, KW and SB has to make payment of Rs.768.07 million on account of monthly “Salaries and Pension and other essential regular O and M expenditure” in the running month of April 2020.
In view of above facts, since KW and SB is facing acute shortage of funds to meet the aforesaid expenditure in the month of April and May2020, a requested for grant-in-aid may be referred onward to the Minister, Local Government/Chairman, KW and SB for his kind perusal and obtaining approval of funds to the tune of Rs.1,536.14 million from Government of Sindh enabling the KW and SB to meet its indispensable monthly expenditure that fell short due to announcing the relief by the Government of Sindh to the people of Karachi.