LAHORE, July 20: The PTCL management has taken a number of measures in the wake of employees action committee’s planned protest drive against the taking over of the company by a UAE group in August. Official sources told Dawn on Wednesday that the PTCL high-ups had directed all the general managers throughout the country to take measures to forestall the planned strike.

The directive issued in this regard says that “any kind of gathering in the PTCL buildings and premises is prohibited besides strict measures should be adopted for the security of the key-point installations and buildings.”

It says the dismissed employees should not be allowed to enter the PTCL buildings and discourage those who give ‘negative comment on PTCL privatization and working’.

The punctuality of employees should strictly be monitored and action be taken against those who remain absent from the office without prior permission from the authorities concerned. Written permission is necessary for leaving the office during office timings.

The directive says that it is mandatory on all employees to wear uniform and display departmental cards. It also directs that the performance of employees should be checked on regular basis and the officers should pay surprise visits to ensure the availability of staff.

Unnecessary wandering of staff in the building is also prohibited, it says and adds that customers complaints should be redressed on priority.

Sources said the GMs had further issued the directions to all directors, divisional engineers, senior revenue officers and other officers for implementation of the order.