Mayor again seeks funds for payment of increased salaries.

KARACHI -- Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Tuesday that the provincial government had not released funds for the 15 per cent increment in salaries of employees of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation as was announced in the provincial budget 2019-20, whereas 5,591 retired employees had been waiting for their dues since 2015.

Speaking to officers of the KMC's finance department, he said there was a shortfall of Rs165 million in the head of employees' salaries and pensions every month.

Mr Akhtar said that even those doctors and paramedics who were combating Covid-19 from the front line at the KMC-run hospitals were deprived of the increment. 'I have approached Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah many times, but to no avail,' he added.

He said that old, ill, women and other retired employees daily visited the KMC office hoping to get their dues cleared but went back without getting anything as there was a shortage of funds with the KMC. 'They served Karachi and Pakistan for so many years and now are struggling for their dues. It should have not happened,' he said.

The mayor said the shortfall in salaries was covered with revenue every month, but the same had almost been finished due to the lockdown. 'The KMC employees, especially the health workers, rescue...