KARACHI, Jan 30: The department of archaeology has asked its 27 employees (in grades from 2 to 9) to shift to Islamabad to work there, or face disciplinary action.

According to a notification dated Jan 26, 2008 (20A/1/2000-Arch Admn), issued by the directorate-general of archaeology, government of Pakistan, the remaining 27 staff members camped at Karachi have been asked to report for duty at the directorate-general of archaeology and museums in Islamabad by Feb 5.

The employees, told to shift to Islamabad, said that about 90 staff members, who did not offer much resistance, were transferred and the remaining 27 were allowed to perform their duties in Karachi after they protested against the move. But now the department has asked them to join duty in Islamabad by Feb 5, or face disciplinary action, they added.

The employees in grades up to BPS 3 were employed locally and could not be transferred away from the city of their residence, they said, adding that they were confused as to how they would survive in the high-cost city as their salaries were too low even to subsist on in Islamabad. The department had neither made any arrangement for accommodations nor announced any other facilities for its employees, they said.

They said it was almost impossible for them to get accommodations for their families and to provide a decent education to the children from their meagre salaries. They alleged that the transfer of the department was made at the behest of the director-general.