KARACHI, Dec 29: Sajjan Union of the city government has demanded provision of adequate financial support to the city government and its 18 towns in order to enable them pay salaries to their employees on time and ensure medical cover and other fringe benefits.

President of the union Khalid Nafees, senior vice-president Syed Zulfiqar Shah and general-secretary Haji Khan Mohammad Kao in a joint statement on Sunday said that medical allowance had been increased from July 2002 but the employees could not be paid accordingly due to unavailability of funds.

They pointed out that shortage of fund was also making it difficult for these institutions to make on time payments of arrears, provident fund, gratuity, and group insurance to the retiring employees.

They alleged that the District Coordination Officer and the District Officer (Fire Brigade) had ignored the directives of the City Nazim in this regard.—APP