GILGIT, May 16: The food department on Monday fired over 60 contract employees, it was learnt.

The directives for termination of contract workers were issued by the secretary food department, said an official, requesting not to be named.

The official said these employees were working since July 2010 and were even not paid salaries despite numerous protests.

Sources said the terminated 62 employees also included workers at the sub-directorate office in Islamabad.

The sacked workers ranged from BS-1 to BS-10 including drivers, inspectors, clerks and supervisors.

Those who were terminated from Gilgit district gathered in front of the Legislative Assembly building and protested against their sacking. They said only the employees of the food department were dismissed while others department did not do so.

They said they were without salaries since they were hired and demanded payment of withheld wages forthwith.

A sacked worker lamented that the government instead of abiding by its claim of providing succor to the masses was snatching bead from their mouth. ADMINISTERED OATH:

The office-bearers of Gilgit-Baltistan Professors Association were administered oath by the Legislative Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig at a ceremony on Monday.

The office-holders include Owais Ahmed president, Rahat Shah general secretary, Hussain Dilshad senior vice-president, Mohammad Rafi finance secretary and Ishtiaq Ahmed Yad press secretary.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Wazir Baig emphasised on the teachers to focus on character building of students. He asked the professors to work for improvement of education system in the region. — Correspondent