May 30, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LAHORE, May 29: The Pakistan Workers Federation has proposed increase in allocation of funds for the social sector in the federal and provincial budgets to make adequate resources available for reducing unemployment through education and training.

The proposal was given at a meeting of the federation held here on Monday with Chaudhry Talib Nawaz in the chair.

Deputy secretary-general Osama Tariq said the budget should aim at achieving national economic self-reliance. The government should try to make the best possible use of available resources and make efforts for promoting austerity by controlling squandering of funds on perks of bureaucrats and legislators.

He said a larger resource allocation was necessary for vocational training and skill development. Formulation of a national policy for employment and skill development was also necessary. Land reforms were required to end the stranglehold of feudalism on agriculture, he said.

Provincial president Nasim Iqbal said the budget should aim at reducing the yawning gap between the maximum and minimum incomes by taxing the rich and giving relief to the poor. Salaries and wages should be increased to reduce the sufferings of fixed-income groups unable to make both ends meet. Number of pay scales should also be reduced for bridging the gap between maximum and minimum incomes.

Talib Nawaz stressed the need for discontinuation of privatization as it had increased unemployment. He said the establishment of labour-intensive industries required to be encouraged to create job opportunities.

The National Productivity Council should be activated for promoting productivity culture in the country. Steps were also needed to control monopolies and cartels like those of cement and sugar.