KARACHI, March 18: Provincial minister for health and population welfare Ehsan Ahmed has recommended the government an increase of Rs1,000 in the salaries of doctors appointed on a contract basis.

In a summery submitted to the Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro, the minister stated that around two thousands doctors were appointed in 1994-95 in the province. Of them male doctors have been drawing Rs5,941 per month, while the females are paid Rs6241 per month. The package for these doctors, working in backward and rural areas, has not been revised for the last many years.

On the directives of President Pervez Musharraf, the governor had extended the term of employment of these doctors for one year, till August 9, 2002. They had been demanding a raise in their salaries as the government has revised the pay-scales of all other employees.

The number of existing contract doctors is 800 — 622 males and 178 females.—PPI