LAHORE, Sept 26: The government should provide resources for the construction of new dams and hydel power stations to Wapda and waive off taxes on the utility bills for giving relief to the people.

An appeal to this effect was made by the Pakistan Wapda Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union through a resolution on Thursday.

The resolution was adopted at the national conference of the Wapda National Transmission and Despatch Company held at the Bakhtiar Labour Hall here.

Resolutions were also adopted for abolition of Presidential Order 2002, restoration of selection grade and move-over facilities, regularization of the service of contract employees and promulgation of the Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 in accordance with the Labour Policy guidelines.

Union Secretary-General Khurshid Ahmed and Additional Secretary-General Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah stressed the need for payment of the arrears to Wapda NTDC employees and acceptance of their demands for discontinuation of the crew allowance deduction, and increase in shift allowance, construction allowance and telecommunication allowance.

Regional Chairmen Bashir Dogar and Imdad Hussain Jafri said that proper residential accommodation should be provided to GSC and GS employees while field staff should be provided with tents during new power supply lines construction assignments.

They should also be paid TA/DA and provided safety equipment to prevent accidents at work. Shortage of telecommunication staff should be met by recruiting additional staff.