08 February 2005	Tuesday	28 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Feb 7: Clerks will observe a country-wide strike and stage demonstrations on Wednesday (tomorrow) to protest against the increase in petrol prices and electricity and gas charges without providing any relief to wage-earners.

All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca) Punjab President Muhammad Afzal said in a statement that low-paid employees were perturbed over the continuous increase in the cost of living on account of frequent raises in POL prices and utility charges by the government.

He also criticized the government policy for increasing the emoluments of legislators substantially but constituting committees to submit recommendations for raising pay and allowances of government employees.

He said the government was not only denying relief to the employees despite increasing petrol prices and utility charges time and again but was also taking steps for converting the service of all its employees into contract to deprive them of pension, gratuity and commutation benefits.