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| November 8, 2005 | Tuesday | Shawwal 5, 1426 |
PTUDC seeks 25pc quake tax on MNCs, feudal lords
ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) has demanded imposition of 25 per cent earthquake tax on the profits of all multinationals, capitalists and feudal lords, so that the money generated could be used in relief and rehabilitation of the affected areas.
The Campaign in a statement here Thursday also demanded cancellation of taxes of all peasants and workers; provision of either jobs for the unemployed youth or payment of a Rs5,000 per month unemployment allowance; supply of gas, power and oil for victims free of cost.
The PTUDC criticized the ruling clique, including army, for its failure in responding to the devastation and sought the panchayats’ (people’s councils) role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction work and abolition of the contracting system. The PTUDC has also sought provision of gas, power, oil and other facilities to the affected areas free of cost.
It also For the announcement of an immediate moratorium on the imperialist debt and interest repayments for the next twenty years.
All this money to be diverted to the rescue and relief operations as well as the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the quake devastated areas.
The PTUDC has established relief camps in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Hajira and Rawlakot. Three PTUDC solidarity caravans, have arrived in Kashmir, two from Pakistan and one from India, with more to arrive in the coming weeks, the release said.
The medical camps have treated nearly 1,500 people. Plans have also been made to expand distribution of relief goods to areas and villages which are now faced with an acute humanitarian crisis.
The PTUDC workers have been hard at work maintaining the relief camps and coordinating the distribution of goods. Many of them were themselves injured in the quake, and many lost their homes, friends and family. Six activists of the PTUDC and 16 supporters lost their lives in the disaster.
The PTUDF workers have set up relief camps for the long-term and will eventually be established as permanent centres for cultural activities. The idea is to establish relief camps as centres of distribution of relief goods to entire areas.
The PTUDC has decided to establish people’s relief and rehabilitation committees to oversee rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations.
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