KARACHI - Both treasury and opposition benches in city district council Monday stressed the need to resume policy of reconciliation in the city, following the national reconciliation policy; however, this exchange of pleasantries ended after 15 minutes when the house witnessed uproar by opposition on the issue of union council funds. The city council meeting was held at Old KMC Building under the chairmanship of City Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil. The agenda was presented for discussion on the issue of inflation, but not a single word was spoken on this subject. After the recitation from the holy Quran, Nasim Khan of UC 4 Bin Qasim Town stressed treasury benches to initiate a reconciliation policy in the city. He said that people of his union council had questioned why the process of reconciliation was yet to be started in the city government. The leader of the house, Asif Siddiqui, said that this was the first time in six month that a member of opposition benches had raised a voice on this important issue. He also stressed that the process of reconciliation should immediately be started. Nasim Khan said that the citizens of his union council were also asking him that why the funds not being released for their union council by the city government after the coalition of PPP and MQM government in Sindh province. Asif Siddiqui said that there was a shortage of funds in city district government. Moreover the Sindh government had cut 34% of Octroi and Zila Tax (OZT), which had increased the problem, and as such Rs70,000 had been cut from funds of each union council. Referring to City Nazim Mustafa Kamal statement in which he showed the will to invest in power generation, Nasim Khan questioned that if there was a shortage of funds then how the city nazim could claim about spending funds for power generation. Nasrin Jalil at this point cleared the house that the city nazim on his behalf had announced the union council funds. Arshed Qureshi appreciated City Nazim for initiating many development projects without discrimination in every town and union council. Another member Ebrahim Mughal also lauded the city nazim and criticised the opposition members. Mirza Afaq Baig informed the house that city nazim after return from his US tour had ordered release of Rs160mn for payment of construction bills, adding 20 days ago Rs60 million were also release in this regard. Imran Baghpati said on point of order that these funds were released only for UCs to treasury, while the union councils of opposition members were being ignored. At this stage, the opposition benches raised slogans for release of their union council funds. Amid the uproar the city naib nazim gave comments that the session was called to discuss the inflation but it was unable to discuss it. She adjourned the session to June 2, 2008 at 3.30pm.