KARACHI: The Sindh government announced on Tuesday that all industrial workers would get Benazir Mazdoor Card through the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), which would entitle them to facilities provided by the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi).

“They [industrial workers] will get these cards very soon for their transparent registration and verification ensuring them all facilities provided by Sessi,” Sindh Labour Minister Nasir Shah said during a meeting with Nadra and Sessi authorities at the Sindh Assembly’s committee room.

The meeting was attended by Nadra’s Sindh director general Lt Col Mohammad Ahmed Khatak, its director Khalid Waleed, Sessi commissioner Farooq Leghari, its vice commissioner and other officials.

Nasir Shah, who also holds the portfolios of transport, mass transit and information, informed the meeting that a proposal was under consideration to provide Mazdoor cards through a link of Sessi to be made with Nadra.

All registered workers would get such facility, he said, adding that a modern system would be evolved to provide services and welfare packages to all industrial workers.

Nadra will issue the Mazdoor cards stuffed with database registration, verification and facilities of which the holder will be entitled to.

The meeting was informed that a joint committee had been set up for final examination of the proposal made by Nadra and for firming up recommendations for the benefit of industrial workers.

The labour minister said the Pakistan Peoples Party had always taken worker-friendly measures and established welfare institutions to improve workers’ living standard. “This is part of the same policies of the PPP which want to alleviate status of workers in the society.”

He said the Benazir Mazdoor Card was part of the development programme of the PPP which it envisaged for labourers and other workers.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2017