LAHORE, July 19: The Punjab Labour Department has reduced the number of annual labour inspections of the industrial units from 11 to one with immediate effect.

This was stated by provincial labour minister Lt-Gen Muh-ammad Tariq (retired) while presiding over a departmental meeting at his office here on Friday.

He said the only comprehensive inspection of the industrial units would now be conducted by a panel of Social Security Labour Welfare and civil defence officers on an appointed date in a year. He said the district coordination officer would act as coordination officer for the purpose. The number of pro formas had also been reduced from 11 to 3.

The minister said the labour inspection had become a source of corruption and inconvenience to the entrepreneurs as the labour, technical, medical, hygiene and social security officers, DHOs and record officers continued inspecting the industrial units one after the other the year round.