LAHORE, July 25: The Pakistan Labour Federation has urged the government to allow trade union activities in Pakistan Railway in accordance with a recent announcement made by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Voicing the demand at a meeting of the federation here on Friday, the federation’s general secretary Muhammad Saeed said a notification placing the railway under the Ministry of Defence had not been withdrawn even three months after the prime minister’s announcement relating to elimination of curbs on trade union activities. He said the notification was meant for restricting trade union activities. He said minimum wages had not been raised to Rs6,000 either.

Federation chairperson Attiya Salim said workers were finding the going hard because of failure of the government in controlling the prices of essential commodities.

The cost of living had increased by more than 100 per cent, but the pay and allowances had not been increased accordingly. —Reporter