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GILGIT, May 2: Capitalism and globalisation are posing threat to global peace as unrest in various parts of the world, particularly in the developing countries, are the result of hegemony of capitalism, speakers at a seminar said on Monday. Speaking at the seminar on ‘Impact of globalisation and capitalism on working class’ held by the Baloristan Labour Party on May day, they demanded that service of temporary workers in all departments of Northern Areas, particularly the regional transport corporation and works department, should be made regular. They said soaring inflation had taken people to the brink of starvation.
The Labour Party’s local chief Ehsan Ali, Gilgit-Baltistan National Alliance leader Inayatullah Shimali, human rights activist Israruddin Israr and others said the Bhasha dam was being constructed against the wishes of local people.
The participants called upon the government to write off small loans of farmers, reduce electricity tariff, restore the Gilgit allowance for 22,000 government employees of Northern Areas, introduce a new curriculum in schools, replace the NALC with a powerful legislative assembly, increase the minimum wages to Rs7,000 per month and pay a monthly allowance of Rs5,000 to educated unemployed youths. The speakers said the solution to the growing problems of society was in a socialist system.
GEMSTONE MARKET: The Northern Areas minerals department has started work on setting up a gemstone market in Gilgit.
Minerals, tourism, industries and environment secretary Dr Imran Afzal Cheema told APP that the government was taking measures to exploit untapped natural resources to boost local economy and improve the living standard of people of the region.
He said the market would provide jobs to locals and also attract foreign investors to the remote area.
He said the government was paying special attention to the sector to make the area a reputable market of gemstones.
