February 28, 2008	Thursday	Safar 20, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh government and trade bodies have locked horns on the mode of payment of compensation to those factory workers who lost jobs in the aftermath of violence that followed the assassination of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27.

Sources in the ministry of Interior told Dawn that the federal government had approved Rs25 million for payment of three months salaries to the affected workers in the city.

The amount has jointly been provided by the Pakistan Bailul Maal and the Sindh Social Security Institution. This is in addition to compensation to be paid to factory owners, mainly in Korangi Industrial Estate, who suffered in the riots. In this regard, a commission set up under Captain Issani has already submitted its report to the federal government.

Now the industries ministry and factory owners differ on the mode of payment. The officials want to distribute cheques themselves while the factory owners insist that they would themselves give away the compensation money to workers.

The industries ministry sources complained that the factory owners despite several requests have not provided lists of jobless workers.

The industry ministry sources pointed out that originally, the factory owners had given estimates of jobless workers at 20,000 but when they were asked to provide lists of such workers, they reduced the number to only 1,200.

The official said that the ministry is sending survey teams to ascertain the exact number of affected workers so that compensation could be paid to genuine sufferers.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Fazal Jalil, told Dawn on Wednesday that the management of an Italian firm, M/s Maxco, has provided a list of its 7,000 workers rendered jobless after the factory was damaged. However, the others are reluctant to provide such lists because they fear that the ministry might make payment to only a handful of workers which might create problem for the factories.

The Kati chief, however, said the association was ready to facilitate payment to deserving workers in every way and even it has offered the government to hold a ceremony at its premises for distribution of compensation amount.

He said the government should not wait for workers lists as it can obtain such lists from the EOBI and Sessi as all factory workers are registered there.

To a question, Mr Fazal said that the industry suffered loss worth Rs20bn in the violence.

In Kati area alone, 19 factories were gutted by miscreants. This is in addition to the loss of 125 commercial vehicles burnt in the riots.