KARACHI, July 2: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri on Monday announced a comprehensive package for the welfare of KPT workers which includes a 19 per cent increase in their salaries and inclusion of women workers in the Haj scheme.

Announcing the approval of workers’ charter of demand at a ceremony held in the KPT head office, he said that the benefits involving an amount of Rs240 million and a substantial raise in allowances would be for the agreement period, i.e. April 2006 to March 2008.

Giving details of the agreement, he said an increase of Rs80 in conveyance allowance, Rs350 in medical allowance, Rs100 in compensation allowance, Rs100 in harbour allowance, Rs200 in the allowance for blind people, Rs200 in the allowance for Hafiz-i-Quran, Rs90 in science teachers’ allowance, Rs50 in dust allowance, Rs300 in special pay allowance for Pesh Imam and Moazzin, Rs25 in Manora allowance and Rs30 in extra nourishment allowance had been approved.

Earlier, the minister performed the computerised balloting of 120 square yard plots for 5,000 workers. A 250-acre piece of land has been allotted for the purpose in Hawkesbay area.