KARACHI: Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Monday said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was fixing Rs15,000 as the minimum monthly salary for all its employees including those employed on contractual basis.

`We are doing this in accordance with the directives of the federal government and the Supreme Court of Pakistan,` said Mr Akhtar while chairing a meeting at his office to discuss the KMC budget for the next fiscal year.

The meeting was attended by chairman finance committee Nadeem Hashmi, municipal commissioner Hanif Mohammad Merchawala, financial adviser Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, senior directors municipal services andfinance, and directors of budget and welfare.

The mayor reviewed the budget proposals presented by the finance department and gave necessary directives to the finance officers.

He urged them that the budget for 2017-18 should be realistic in which they should ensure full recovery of the revenue targets.

Mr Akhtar said reduction in unnecessary budget heads was necessary and the portion should be increased for next year`s development portfolio.

He asked the officials concerned to hand the budget details to the members of KMC council, including the members of the opposition parties, before the approval; and, they should incorporate all valid suggestions and recommendations in the final document.