02 October 2004	Saturday	16 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 1: Speakers at meeting on Thursday urged both the employers and employees to fulfil their responsibilities in respective fields.

They were speaking at the gold medals and diploma-award ceremony, organized by the National Institute of Labour Administration and Training (NILAT).

Justice Ali Aslam Jafri said that industrial growth and decent working conditions could be achieved only through peace and tranquillity in the industrial sector which was only possible if there was an awareness and understanding between workers and employers of their reciprocal rights and obligations with an all- round commitment to higher productivity.

Earlier, NILAT chief Syed Hakim Ali Shah Bokhari said that research has proved that there was a direct correlation between productivity and investment in human capital. He said that research has also concluded that increasing the average amount for education and training by 1 per cent raises the country's gross domestic product by as much as 9 per cent.

He said that some responsibility also lies with the government as well as employers towards poverty alleviation, employment creation, achieving and maintaining industrial competitiveness, improving working conditions to overcome the hurdles to the country's economic development.

Syed Ghayoorul Hassan, Noorul Hadi, A. J. Memon, M. Anwer Khan, Mohammad Arshad, Nazia Malik, Col Nasir Zaidi, and others also spoke. Later, gold medals and diplomas were distributed among successful participants.