KARAK: Leaders of local labour union have demanded of the federal government to fix Rs25,000 as monthly wage for labourers to help them cope with the price hike.

The demand was made by labour union president Naveed Khattak and general secretary Taj Ali while addressing workers at Lakh Kani salt mines. The workers observed a strike to push the authorities to meet their demands.

The labour leaders said the current Rs14,000 wage was too small for them to make both ends meet, and demanded that the wage should be enhanced to Rs25,000. They threatened to launch a protest movement if their demands were not accepted.

The workers’ leaders also demanded payment of compensation to the heirs of deceased labourers. They complained that no safety equipment was provided to labourers by the owners of mines.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and three others were injured when a jeep collided with a truck on the Indus Highway on Sunday. The injured were JUI-F district president Hafiz Ibne Ameen, opposition leader in Karak district council Maulana Mirzaqeem and Amir Mohammad.

Police said the jeep was part of a vehicular procession going to Kohat to participate in the party’s Seeratun Nabi conference.The deceased identified as Majeed, the driver, died while being taken to the divisional headquarters hospital, Kohat.

Published in Dawn December 26th, 2016