Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek on Monday directed Leader of the House Nayyar Bokhari to hold a meeting with representatives of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), the Implementation Commission and the Planning Commission to resolve the issue of arrears of over 16,000 to 17, 000 teachers of NCHD within 15 days.
The government had earlier decided to devolve the NCHD to the provinces under the 18th amendment, jeopardising the fate of around 30,000 employees.
The previous government, in cooperation with the international community, planned to provide education to around 15 million children under the ‘Education For All’ programme. Speaking on a point of order, Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami and Senator Jamal Khan Leghari drew the attention of the upper house of parliament towards the thousands of teachers protesting in the federal capital for not being paid by the government for 10 months now.
During the proceedings, Naek asked Nayyar Bokhari to arrange an emergency meeting with chairperson NCHD Dr Nafeesa Shah, Chairman Implementation Commission Raza Rabbani, Chairman Planning Commission and representatives of government teachers to resolve the issues. Senators across party lines demanded that the government pay their arrears as soon as possible.
Haji Adeel of ANP suggested that at least six months’ advance should be given to teachers so that they can arrange alternative jobs during this period. Senator Raza Rabbani said the Council of Common Interest under the head of Prime Minister Gilani is looking after NCHD affairs.
Leader of Opposition Issue
Taking part in the constitutional debate on the appointment of leader of the opposition, Haji Adeel said ANP is a coalition partner of the government and they should not be considered as opposition members. Senator Raza Rabbani and other legal experts will kick off the debate on the controversial appointment of the Leader of the Opposition Abdul Ghafoor Haidri today.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2011.
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