Pension cards to be issued to retired employees: Mayor Karachi

KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has announced the issuance of pension cards for retired employees, stating that the cards are proposed to be issued in the next financial year.

According to the details, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab announced several revolutionary measures regarding the employees of the Karachi Metropolitan Municipality, the protection of the city’s infrastructure, and the restoration of historical heritage.

Addressing a press conference at the KMC head office, the Mayor of Karachi said that under the labor-friendly policy of the city council, KMC has provided health insurance to its 11,500 employees, after which KMC has become the first local government institution in the country to implement a medical insurance policy.

The Mayor of Karachi said that in the past, poor employees of the Municipal Corporation had to get treatment recommendations, but now the culture of recommendation has been abolished and every employee, big or small, will get equal medical facilities.

Under this insurance policy, employees will be able to get free treatment ranging from Rs 150,000 to Rs 600,000 from more than 200 renowned hospitals in the country.

He said that it has been proposed to issue a ‘pension card’ for retired employees from the next financial year, which will line up pension and arrears.

Murtaza Wahab, while announcing a major change in the financial system, said that from the next financial year, KMC will introduce a completely digital payment system and will become the first local government institution to make payments through e-transfer.

All payments will be transferred directly to the employees and their respective bank accounts, which will eliminate paperwork, delays in traditional processes, and corruption and bring transparency in the financial system.

The Mayor of Karachi said that a special ‘vigilance squad’ has been established to prevent damage to government property and street lights and illegal activities, and has been distributed electric bikes among them.

In the past, city wardens’ vehicles used to incur heavy expenses on petrol. Now, these electric bikes will save a lot of petrol and will also increase the efficiency of the squad.

Mentioning the restoration of Karachi’s historical and British-era urban heritage, Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that KMC has completed the work of restoring the city’s damaged historical buildings to their original form.

The 100-year-old British-era historical Hoti Market, which had lost its beauty due to encroachments, has been cleared of encroachments and restored to its original form.

Similarly, the restoration and beautification of Empress Market, Machhi Miani Market, Freer Market and Lee Market have been completed.

He further informed that the historic Khaliq Dina Hall and KMC Head Office have been renovated, while Karachi’s first public library, Denso Hall, has been restored to its original condition and a magnificent library has been established there.