May 20, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, May 19. A large number of work-charge employees of Public Health Engineering Department under the banner of Public Health Engineering Staff Association staged demonstration on Monday against non-payment of their remuneration for last 13 months.

Protesters under the leadership of Farooque Ahmed Bajwa and Ayoub Shaikh carried banners and placards while demanding the government to ensure payment of their legal dues.

President Farooque Bajwa and Joint Secretary Ayoub Shaikh condemned the attitude of Treasury Office and told provincial minister that some 4,000 work-charge employees had been deprived of their earnings of 13 months due to the intervention of Treasury Department resulting in monetary crunch to them and their families. They urged the government to include wages of employees of Public Health Department in the coming budget.

Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: Several employees of the Public Health Engineering Department have not been paid their dues for last 11 months for which they decided to launch protest drive from May 20.

A meeting of office-bearers of the Public Health Engineering Staff Welfare Association presided over by Central Deputy Organiser Shaban Mugheri held on Monday decided to launch a protest drive for release of their lawful dues of last 11 months.

Led by Ali Sher Tunio, Faqir Mohammad, Anwar Ali Rajpar, Shams Mallah, Allah Dino Khaskheli, they staged demonstration opposite the Public Health Executive Engineer’s office.

They said about 100 lower grade employees were waiting for payment.