KARACHI: Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), a vital civic body of Karachi was unable to hold a single meeting of the governening body for the past six years as its Managing Director (MD), Misbahuddin Fareed had demonstrated a lethargic attitude and did not bother to hold a single meeting through out the period, officials at KWSB said. Misbah is also serving as Project Director of city’s Rs 45bn S-III, Greater Sewerage Project and newly the established Dhabiji Water Pumping Station, where physical work is expected to start soon. The MD is also allegedly using the official powers of Chairman, Deputy Managing Director (DMD), directors and chief engineers, they added, Which is in violation of KWSB Act 1996 and 19 by-laws. Misbah is also enjoying the powers of Central Public Works Accounts, Purchase of Store Regulation 1978, Sindh Local Government (Accounts) Rules 1983, Employees Appointment, Promotion and Transfer Rules 1978, Efficiency and Discipline and General Conditions of Services Rules 1987, Sindh Financial Rules VolI and II and Service Fund Rules. In addition, he is also misusing official powers of allotment of KWSB plots and vehicles to officials, water connections, medical bills, ex-Pakistan permission for leave and related issues of the department. Last meeting of the KWSB was held during the tenure of former Chairman of Board, Agha Siraj Durrani in 2011. The post of DMD Finance is still lying vacant and Sindh Local Government is also not paying any attention to the matter. Secretary, KWSB, Khalique Ahmad who has also been reverted to grade 18 on the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan , was earlier working in grade 20 on his own. Superintendent engineers of civil and electrical departments have also been promoted without holding Board meeting, which is prerequisite in this regard. Besides, Misbah is also abusing powers of verification of title in administrative matters involving financial implications by Accountant/Divisional Accountant (incases of Divisional Office level) Circle Accountant/AAO (in cases of Circle Office level) and IAO/ADA (in case of Directorate/DMD/MD/Chairman level). Powers for acceptance of tenders are restricted to lowest tender only provided further that the amount of tender does not exceed the sanctioned estimate in case acceptance is accorded by EE, SE and DCE whereas Directors/DMD/MD/Chairman may accept tenders exceeding the sanctioned estimate to the extent they are empowered to sanction estimate. In case of non-acceptance of lowest tender, approval of the next higher authority will be required, but MD KWSB is has also involved him in these matters unlawfully. He has further usurped exercising powers of development under rule Finance, Administration and Powers (FAP) in accordance with Board’s Resolution 5, September, 1988. Vetting non-standard clauses in agreement for works/consultancies/ technical recommendation of tender, Committee Financial non recommendation of tender, committee legal for DMD Technical Service, Finance and legal affairs DMD full powers as per procedure, scrutiny of tender for schemes and works full power tender committees are also being violated by MD Misbah uddin Fareed. The MD is only entitled to exercise special powers in emergencies up to 3 percent power of DMD TS, sanction of the amount in excess of sectional estimate, 3 percent power of DMD TS, but in violation of rules, MD KWSB is fully exercising these powers. Due to absence of appropriate officials in the offices to deal with water connections-Commercial and Industrial, corrupt practices have been heightening in the department, all are violations as official powers used by him, officials alleged. As per KWSB’s official, one-window water connection was introduced during the tenure of former MD, Ghulam Arif, but it has been abolished and resultantly wrong practices for new water connections is being introduced in the department. The of works reference of law/rules, sanction 124(V) of SLG (AO-1983), administrative approval of works/repair/ maintenance, DMD(Technical Services) up to Rs 2m, does not exist any more.