GILGIT: The employees of Northern Areas Transport Company (Natco) held a protest demonstration outside the office of company’s general manager here on Tuesday against non-payment of salaries for last four months.

Call for the protest was given by Natco employees association.

The employees alleged that they were transferred when they demanded payment of salaries.

The protesters said 950 employees of the company had been without salaries for last four months. They claimed the attitude of Natco general manager was not good with the employees.

The protesters alleged that mismanagement and massive corruption had put the government organisation into financial mess.

The protesters pointed out the government provided over Rs25 million to Natco annually, but even then it faced a Rs50-million deficit.

Natco employees’ body president Munawar Abbas said it was injustice that hundreds of employees were not paid salaries to enable them to purchase necessary items for Ramazan and do Eid shopping. He said families of the employees were suffering financially.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the GB Assembly Amjad Hussain Advocate of PPP said families of Natco employees were in dire straits because of financial crunch.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, he alleged that Natco employees were appointed and transferred on political basis. He also alleged massive corruption in the transport company, and demanded of the chief minister to investigate the matter.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2022