PESHAWAR, July 8: The people of NWFP are still deprived of facility of employment exchange service despite the fact that the NWFP governor had approved the summary allowing the establishment of the same in February this year.

Employment exchange offices are fully operational in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The employment exchange offices in the NWFP were closed in 1998 by the previous government. After the approval by the provincial governor, the provincial industries department issued a notification, for establishment of seven employment exchanges in important districts and appointed district managers from the surplus pool.

These districts are Peshawar, Kohat, D.I.Khan, Mardan, Chitral, Abbotabad and Swat.

At the time of closure, these offices were functioning in 13 districts with more staff. However, in the new setup their strength was reduced to 24 from that of 156. According to official sources, the re-opening of employment exchanges will put no burden on the provincial kitty as staff has been provided for the same from the surplus pool, where they were already drawing salaries while sitting at home.

According to sources, NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah is kind enough to reopen the employment exchanges keeping in view the legal and personal requirements of the private sector, creating effective links between employers and job seekers, providing a central place and agency for service free employment. However, the establishment of the same is remain on paper because the provincial finance department has not provided required fund to start the functioning of these offices.

According to official sources, the finance department intends to give employment exchange offices under the control of principal technical training centres (TTCs).

However, under the Essential Personnel Registration Ordinance 1948, the manager is competent to issue Essential Personnel Certificates and employment exchange is an organization specified in the ordinance to maintain manpower register.—APP