Karachi: As questions about the performance of Sindh local governments and draw attention to their financial management, Sindh Parliament’s Public Accounts Commission (PAC) warned on Monday that local councils will face account benefits.
PAC President Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, who is also the Sindh president of PPP, warned that local councils would face accountability if they fail to use taxes for public welfare.
“Why should the Sindh government bear the burden of responsibility?” he asked, pointing out that the provincial government allocates Rs 16,800 crore of people’s welfare to these bodies every year.
The PAC meeting reviewed the audit reports of the Sukkur department local councils for 2022 and 2023.
Kuchro said local councils spend less than 30% on development projects
The committee expressed concern about the performance of all local councils across the province, including UCS, town and municipal councils, as well as municipal corporations, and requested monthly reporting of Octroi Zilla tax (OZT) funds for all local councils.
The PAC reviewed the financial records of government departments to detect violations and increase transparency in governance, and also directed provincial finance ministries and LG departments not to release funds to local councils that did not submit utilities about UT. funds.
Mr Kuhro said the Sindh government provides Rs 16,800 crore to local councils throughout the province every year, but on how local councils are and how to spend the money.
He said the release of OZT funds included a development budget of 8 billion rupees. He added: “However, the local council did not even spend Rs 160 crore of OZT funds for the development project, which is due to the public’s doubts about its performance.”
“The municipal companies are 100 crore to 120 crore per month, and the municipal and town boards are 200 crore to 20 crore per month and 100 crore to 12 crore per month for UCS. The council must be responsible.”
The PAC ordered the regional directors of the LG department to inspect the local councils of their respective departments.
It also directed the LG department to calculate records of employees in all local councils in Sindh and to perform biometric technology for employees.
The PAC further ordered the suspension of the chief municipal officer of Gambat Municipal Council because they did not deposit Rs 7 million of sales tax to the government’s finance ministry.
Posted in Dawn on September 23, 2025
