KARACHI (Dunya News) - Senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar has said six administrative units should be created in Sindh to ensure equal distribution of resources and development opportunities across the province.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Sattar said Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana and other areas should receive equal opportunities for development. He said all people had a right to Sindh's resources and that greater decentralisation could transfer powers to the grassroots level.
Sattar said people should be given the right to decide what administrative structure they wanted, suggesting that a transparent referendum could be held on the issue. He said the demand for new administrative units had existed for years and public opinion should be sought.
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He also raised the issue of retirement dues owed to former employees of Karachi's local government system. According to Sattar, employees of 25 towns had retired but had not received their post-retirement benefits. He said deductions from employees' salaries had continued to be deposited into the KMC account, and retired workers should therefore receive their due payments.
Referring to a Sindh High Court ruling, Sattar called for the prompt resolution of the retirement dues issue and implementation of the court's decision. He said responsibility had also been assigned to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and relevant officials.
Sattar further called for greater powers for the Karachi mayor and said an empowered local government system could function more effectively. He stressed that powers should be devolved to the grassroots and that resources should be distributed equitably among Sindh's cities.
He said MQM-P remained committed to the demand for new administrative units and an empowered local government system.