September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

ATTOCK, Sept 13: Leader of Muttahida Mehnatkush Mahaz, Attock, Rana Shaukat Ali Khan has asked the district administration to pay the suspended salaries of over 900 low-paid contract workers who were facing financial hardship during the month of Ramazan.

He said this while addressing a gathering of All Pakistan PWD Workers Union, Attock chapter, in front of the Public Works Department Office here on Saturday. Over 900 workers of the PWD and other departments have not received their salaries for the last seven months.

Mr Khan, who is also Union Council Attock-II nazim, said about 933 workers, including 450 baldars (road maintainers) had been appointed in the works department of Attock on contract basis by the district government during the tenure of the previous government. But the authorities concerned did not get these posts sanctioned from the finance department, Punjab. As a result after the new government took over, it stopped the salaries which created financial problems for the low-paid workers and their families.

He said the posts should have gotten approved from the finance department, Punjab, but it was not the fault of the employees.

The matter should have been sorted out between the district government and Punjab, he added.