APROPOS the letter ‘The real issue’ (Oct 19), there can hardly be any debate about the armed forces’ valour and their sense of discipline. Likewise, there can be little argument, if any, about their lack of training to run business empires or to create “unimaginable opportunities” for the people. Expecting them to be outstanding in all aspects of life seems to be unrealistic.
To any rule, there are exceptions, and Air Martial Nur Khan was truly an exception on many a count. Nur Khan not only made PIA one of the best airlines in the world, but also contributed towards bringing revolutionary reforms in the domain of labour legislation. He had the portfolio of labour ministry in the cabinet of Gen Yahya Khan in 1969.
His role has been acknowledged by the likes of Prof. Shafi Malik, who is one of the most distinguished labour leaders in the country and who ran the National Labour Federation with distinction from 1969 to 2000. In his book, Islami Mazdoor Tehrik Ki Safar Kahani, he has written about Nur Khan’s services for trade unions, stating that he organised one tripartite labour conference in Karachi and another in Dacca. Under the new labour policy, Nur Khan repealed two of the controversial laws, namely the Trade Unions Ordinance, 1968, and the Industrial Disputes Ordinance, 1968. Those were substituted with one of the best labour laws ever made in Pakistan i.e., the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969 (IRO, 1969).
According to the book, Nur Khan initiated several measures to bring improvements in workers’ living and working conditions. For the first time, the ordinance allowed the workers to elect their collective bargaining agent (CBA) union through secret ballot. The induction of this right was instrumental in promoting trade union activities within organisations and an increase in their numbers and membership.
Besides the IRO, 1969, five more ordinances, were promulgated for the national workforce. Undoubtedly, the contributions of Nur Khan to workers’ welfare through labour legislation are unparalleled. He was, indeed, a great exception.
Parvez Rahim
Karachi.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2020
