Low wage staff of NAPWD end strike after two days
by Zulfiqar Ali Khan
HUNZA, August 26: A strike by staff of all power stations of Northern Areas that lasted for two consecutive days has now come to an end after many rounds of dialogue between the ‘Action committee of Fixed-Pay Staff Water and Power Department’ and officials of Northern Areas Power and Works Department.
The strike was being observed on the call of the newly-formed Action Committee of the fixed-pay staff of the power houses of Northern Areas. A large number of employees gathered in Nomal village and suspended the supply of the electricity to Gilgit Town from Naltar power house for a whole day. Similarly, all power stations of Northern Areas also suspended electricity supplies.
The employees demanded to regularise all fixed-pay staff and increase the minimum salaries to six thousand, as announced by Prime Minister during the budget session 2008. They also complaint about lack of regular payment of salaries for months and demanded to disburse salaries within first five days of every month. They demanded to approve the PC-4 of all the power stations in Northern Areas and fill the vacant positions by recruiting people from respective projects.
The committee announced the withdrawal after the Secretary Works, Nasir Ali Shigri and other high officials of NAPWD assured the committee to take immediate actions on the demands of the employees. They, however, threatened to reassert strike for their rights, whenever the situation warranted and the demands were not met.
The PWD officials should take the issue of low income staff seriously and ensure to provide proper facilities at the level of national pay scale including other facility. The common people are already suffering from daily load shedding, price hike and low and order situation in the country. It could be better to take proper steps before the giant coming out of the bottle.
Thanks and regards
Sharif Khan
some corrupt employees and other influnetial persons in askurdass nagar no 1 sale fuel of generator of local electric supply. goverment should take action aganist them. Any one who is concern with this issue should take againat them,so that proper electricity may suply to public .
NAPWD must to take an action against there employs
they dont know how to talk with people,
they just know those people who gives them commission
plz save NAPWD and take action against these blady basterds