KARACHI, Feb 12: Most of the 26 archaeology department employees who were transferred three weeks back from the city offices have not moved to the federal capital to report for duty at the directorate general so far.
Instead they have requested for the cancellation of transfer orders, it has been reliably learnt.
The archaeology department had issued a transfer order on January 26, 2008, directing the 26 low-paid staffers – from sweepers (BPS 2) to stenographers (BPS 15) – to report for duty at the directorate general in Islamabad by February 25. However, sources said, most of the staffers refused to move to Islamabad despite the fact that they were uncertain about their future and feared that disciplinary action might be taken against them.
Under the latest order, staffers associated with library, publication, photography and other sections have been asked to move to the federal capital. However, they have not been told to whom they should hand over the charge of books, journals, equipment and other materials. The low-grade staffers, who have been resisting the move for the past two years, are once again active to request the authorities concerned to cancel the latest transfer order.
The directorate general of archaeology department had been functioning in the metropolis for decades until it was shifted to the federal capital some two years back. Around 100 officials working in the directorate were initially asked to move to their new offices in Islamabad. Being well-remunerated, the officers shifted to the new premises though a bit reluctantly. However, the low-salaried staffers resisted the move by raising a hue and cry. Their main concern was their inability to afford expensive accommodation in the capital.
In an attempt to persuade the officials, the department had even offered them incentives like promotions which had been long overdue. The offer enticed only half of the staffers and as such nearly 50 left for Islamabad. However, a number of them could not afford sky-rocketing rents for accommodation in the capital, which forced many to live in the office building. Interestingly, sources said, employees from grades as low as that of a sweeper up to the director level preferred to live in the office building to which some ministry officials objected. The ministry directed the department to sort out the issue, sources added.
When the issue was raised in the media followed by a discussion in parliament, the ministry declared that only the director-general along with his staff were being transferred while all other sections, including library of books and artefacts, and staffers would stay in Karachi.
A federal government communication, dated June 22, 2005, states: “As per decision, office of the director general is to be shifted to Islamabad along with nucleus staff.” But whenever a new federal secretary is posted, the department get the fresh transfer orders for the staffers.
Sources said that the old building on Shaheed-i-Millat Road, where the directorate general was located, had been lying vacant since June 30, 2006 though it was still in the department’s possession which paid Rs2.7 million as an annual rent to the owner. The department has now started carrying out the necessary repairs with a budget of one million rupees so that the renovated building could be handed over back to the owner.