LAHORE: The PML-Q has demanded of the government to fix Rs20,000 minimum wages.

The PML-Q leaders adopted seven resolutions at the PML Labour Wing convention held at the Muslim League House here on Thursday in connection with the Labour Day.

It demanded that a quota should be fixed for the labour class in all government residential schemes. Besides, labour colonies should be built across Punjab to provide them roof.

It said a new labour policy should be framed in consultation with the representatives of labour organizations.

The third resolution was about the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. It said the country was facing a severe energy crisis which resulted in closure of several industries, especially in Punjab.

It demanded the construction of KBD without any further delay to provide cheap electricity to the people.

The PML-Q further demanded upgradation of clerks and their salary should be raised in accordance with the inflation rate.

It said the privatization process should be stopped immediately as the lower cadre employees would be affected the most if the government privatized different organizations.

It also demanded regularization of the services of contract employees in the government departments.

PML-Q’s Punjab Secretary-General and former opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan said that traders, workers, farmers, clerks, doctors, para-medical staff and nurses were protesting today on the Mall Road due to anti-workers policies of the PML-N government. “The Mall Road has become a ‘protest road’ because of the government’s anti-people policies,” he said.

He said the tenure of Pervaiz Elahi was an era of progress and prosperity for the workers during which a number of labour colonies were established and social security hospitals upgraded.

Mr Zaheeruddin said the PPP had been merged into the N-League. “The PML-Q will contest the local body elections along with its allies. We are the real opposition,” he said.

He said the nation had great expectations from the Judicial Commission probing into the 2013 election rigging allegations.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said all the reforms introduced for the welfare and well-being of the people during the PML-Q tenure had been scrapped by the PML-N government.

He said during the tenure of Pervaiz Elahi dowry was provided for daughters of workers and free medicines were also provided to workers in hospitals. “The PML-N government has deprived the children of labourers of medical treatment,” he said.

PML-Q’s Punjab Information Secretary Mian Imran Masood, Bilal Mustafa Sheerazi, Faqir Hussain Bokhari, Khatija Umer and Mian Munir also spoke.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2015

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