June 19, 2013

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Woes of pensioners

June 19: Sir: I was disappointed to note that there is only a 10 percent increase in the pensions of retired government servants in the latest budget. I am a retired Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer and I retired in 1987 when my salary was close to Rs 4,000. Now, after more than two decades of retirement, my present pension is only around Rs 6,000. With my advancing age, where my wife and I often require very special medical treatment from private sector hospitals, how can I maintain myself let alone the reality that I also have to take care of my children’s education and marital responsibilities with such skyrocketing prices of everything? It is time that the government introduce a ‘one rank (appointment), one (same) pension system so that the old retirees’ pension can also come on … [Read more...]

Probe under way into Rs7.2m Sepco workers’ fund scam

SUKKUR, June 19: While an internal inquiry into around Rs7.2 million alleged embezzlement in Sukkur Electric Supply Company workers’ GP fund is under way, the Federal Investigation Agency is stated to have started its own probe into the scam on complaints made by many of the about 500 affected employees, it is learnt. Sources said on June 17 that the money belonged to the Sepco employees, including officers, serving in the operation sub-divisions of Rohri, Salehpat, Old Sukkur and Pannu Aqil under Operation Division Rohri. It was supposed to be remitted to the director accounts (funds), Wapda House, Lahore, for reconciliation on close of every financial year. However, the employees recently came to know that the demand drafts prepared for the purpose were got en-cashed by some … [Read more...]

Occupational hazards: Paramedics, teachers boycott polio duties in Swabi

SWABI, June 19th: The paramedical and teachers associations of Swabi district on June 18 refused to participate in polio drives in the district unless proper security is provided to them. Speaking to journalists at the Government Employees Coordination Council office in Swabi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Paramedical Association Senior Vice President Islam Gul along with members of All Teachers Association announced a boycott of anti-polio drives in Swabi until the government provides them complete security. Condemning Sunday’s killing of two polio workers in Kandaray village, Gul and other participants signed a resolution demanding the government to order an inquiry into the incident. “The district government should bring to task the people whose negligence claimed the lives of the two … [Read more...]

Generating employment: Govt approval sought to set up industrial zone in Bara

PESHAWAR, June 19th: Former parliamentarian and chairman of Pakistan Qabail Tehreek Haji Muhammad Shah Afridi has asked the government to give them permission to set up an industrial zone in Khyber Agency. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on June 18, Shah said they have selected a site in Akakhel area of Bara sub-division, Khyber Agency where they want to set up an industrial hub to create employment for the people from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). “We have partnered with China for this purpose and allocated $500million,” said Shah, adding $50million has been transferred for startup and all they require now is the government’s permission. People in Fata need employment and education, emphasised the former parlimentarian. War and … [Read more...]

Salaries, pensions increased; 20,000 cops to be recruited

KARACHI, June 18: The Sindh government on June 17 presented a deficit budget of Rs21.63 billion for the fiscal year 2013-14 with a total outlay of Rs617.21 billion. The provincial government has abstained from increasing the sales tax imposed in the federal budget and maintained it at the old rate of 16 percent. It also announced a raise in salaries of government employees. In general, the budget has imposed increased taxes on urban property and services.The provincial government has decided not to take any measure for enforcing agriculture tax, despite the clear indication by federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the federal budget that the implementation of agriculture tax is within the ambit of the provincial governments. However, the Sindh government enhanced the property … [Read more...]

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