LAHORE, Dec 30: The All-Pakistan Local Government Workers Federation has decided to submit a 22-point charter of demands to the federal and provincial governments.

The demands include introduction of uniform service rules for local government employees and payment of uniform allowances throughout the country, regularisation of contract employees and daily-wagers, 100 per cent increase in pay and allowances, withdrawal of increase in gas and electricity tariff, fixation of quota of local government employees in residential schemes, promotion of sanitary workers to grade-II after a 10-year service, grade-III after a 15-year service, grade-IV after a 20-year service and grade-V after a 25-year service, introduction of health insurance scheme for local government employees, grant of Rs150 integrated allowance to grade I to IV employees, grant of grade 14 to union council secretaries, grant of house rent equal to 60 per cent of the basic pay and increase of conveyance allowance to Rs800 and adjustment of local government employees in Sindh in accordance with their status.

The charter of demands was formulated at a meeting of the federation office-bearers from all over the country here on Tuesday. It will be submitted to the government after approval in the general council to be held here on Jan 15.

GDP growth: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for measures to boost GDP growth and check the fast increasing inflation eroding the purchasing power of the middle class.

Describing the first quarterly report of the State Bank of Pakistan as an eye-opener for both policymakers and stakeholders, LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali expressed his concern at negative growth in Large Scale Manufacturing Sector.

He said the automobile sector showed a fast decline because of increase in steel prices. He said cut in markup and rationalisation of duties was necessary to bring the sector out of mire. Energy shortage was the key factor responsible for the manufacturing slowdown. Economic revival would remain a dream without ensuring continuous energy supply to industrial units.