KARACHI - Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar on Thursday assured the protesting doctors and paramedical staff that their salaries would be paid within 24 hours and requested them to end their protest.
He was talking to media during his visit to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he had gone to negotiate with the protesting doctors and paramedical staff.
Waseem said that doctors and the paramedics would get their salaries by 2pm on Friday.
He thanked Sindh chief minister and the Government of Sindh for releasing funds for the disbursement of salaries and said the local government was also part of the Sindh Government and the latter had to solve the problems whenever and wherever they occurred.
DMC Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi, Chairman of Finance Committee Nadeem Hidayat Hashmi, Chairperson Medical Committee Naheed Fatima, MS ASH Dr Mohammad Anwer and other officers were also present on the occasion.
The mayor said the condition of KMC hospitals was poor, “And we are making all possible efforts to improve the sector.” He said the problems of doctors and paramedical staff will be solved on priority basis whereas provision of medicines and surgical equipments to the hospitals was expected soon.
The mayor said the results of agreements entered into with various organisations in connection with the child health and cardiac treatment would soon become apparent.
He further said that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was the third largest public sector hospital in Karachi, which provided low cost medical facilities to thousands of patients every day.
He said it was duty of the doctors and paramedical staff to ensure best treatment of patients and improve the performance of the hospital.
Meanwhile, on the directives of Waseem, special arrangements have been made in the Engineering Department to streamline its development.
The Civil Works (Road, Bridges, Flyovers, and Underpasses & SWD) section of the department has been divided into four zones to facilitate speedy completion of projects.
The Chief Engineer of Zone-A (district East) will be Shabihul Hussnain whereas Najeeb Ahmed would work as chief engineer Zone-B (district Korangi and Malir) and Sami Khan will be the chief engineer for Zone-C (district Central & West) whereas Muhammad Zafar Khan has been given the charge of chief engineer Zone-D (district South).
The civil works of all buildings of KMC will be look after by SM Taha, including designs of their offices and other assignments and the E&M works of streets and lights have been given to Anis Ahmed Khan as chief engineer E&M zone.
All officers and chief engineers/heads of zones will be responsible for monitoring, executing and implementing schemes in their respective areas through lower tiers.
A meeting in this connection was chaired by the Mayor Karachi to review and discussed the details of the plan.
MPA Faisal Sabzwari and city council chairmen with director general works and other officers attended this meeting.
The mayor, on this occasion, said the division of civil works would bring improvement in the execution of the public welfare works and provide facilities to citizens in all districts of Karachi.