DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 27: The Punjab government decision to shift the divisional directorate of social security from Dera Ghazi Khan to Muzaffargarh has irked the employees as well as mill owners.

The governing body of the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI), headed by Labour Minister Akhtar Rizvi, had taken a decision in this regard. Now a sub-office will be set up here with about 10 employees and the majority of the staff will be transferred to new directorate.

The divisional directorate was established in the late 1980s after declaring Dera Ghazi Khan a division in 1985. Its basic purpose was to provide labourers and mill workers in the four districts of defunct Dera Ghazi Khan division - Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan - better health and education facilities. It worked smoothly and completed its targets for years.

So far as the number of industrial units are concern, Muzaffargarh tops the rest of the three districts, but Dera Ghazi Khan has edge over Muzaffargarh due to its geographical location. Muzaffargarh is located 30 kilometres from the divisional directorate of Multan and 60 kms from Dera Ghazi Khan. However, Rajanpur is 180 kms away from Muzaffargarh.

It may be remembered that former commissioner Haroon Rashid had rejected the proposal while recently appointed commissioner Qazi Afaq Husain okayed it.