PESHAWAR, March 6: Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Mohammed Idrees has warned officials of strict action if found creating hurdles in resolution of the working community’s problems.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of two-day seminar of the municipal workers union on Wednesday, the minister said that problems of the labour community would be resolved gradually and no one would need to resort to hunger strikes or agitation for their genuine rights.

Mr Idrees taking exception of the non-payment of salaries to employees issued on the spot orders for their dues, and warned that every directive of the MMA government should be followed properly else disciplinary action would be taken against the violator.

Taking cognizance of the complaints that workers were being punished or harassed for union activities, the minister said that such activities were allowed under article 17 of the Constitution. “The present government will honour this important clause as it relates to the basic rights of the working class,” he added.

Mr Idrees also urged the working and labour communities to perform their duties with devotion for expanding the output and resource generation base of the province.

He maintained that majority of the MMA cabinet members belonged to the middle class and they would cherish their popular mandate for bringing about a pleasant change.