SARGODHA: One hundred and five temporarily employed sanitary workers of grade four held a protest in front of the metropolitan corporation on Thursday against nonpayment of their salary for the last three months and went on strike until the payment of their dues.

Speaking to the media, the protesters alleged that they were given an assurance by the metropolitan corporation for payment of monthly salary on a regular basis but they had not been paid even a single penny for the last three months.

They complained that it was hard for them to make both ends meet and alleged that instead of making payment, the administration was issuing them threats to intimidate them. Nobody from metropolitan was available for comments.

WHEAT PROCUREMENT: In view of the current crisis, the Punjab government has decided to purchase wheat at the rate of Rs1,400 per maund.

Cash payment will be made to each grower for 100 sacks of wheat and neither Khasra Girdawari nor any condition for empty gunny bags per acre yield would be imposed during the procurement.

This was stated by Punjab Minister of Labour and Human Resource Ansar Khan Niazi here on Thursday who also said that nobody would be allowed to purchase or store wheat without licence from the food department.

He said the target for procurement from growers in the district was 132,400 metric tonne which was 18,000 tonne more than the previous year. He added 13 procurement centres had been set up and empty gunny bags would be distributed among the farmers from April 15 while purchase of wheat would start on April 20.

He said the food department had 89pc empties; however, the farmer would have to pay Rs9 per 100kg. He said for the guidance and complaints, a control room had been set up.

The minister said besides availability of sanitisers and face masks, anti-bacterial sprays would be carried out regularly at each procurement centre.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020