Bus drivers’ salaries held for 11 months

The transporters hired after the PM’s education reforms in FDE’s schools are still waiting to get their dues cleared

ISLAMABAD: The transporters hired after the prime minister’s education reforms in Federal Directorate of Education’s (FDE’s) schools are still waiting to get their dues cleared. After the passing of several months, the drivers have not yet been paid for their services. The drivers and conductors were hired on a contract, but the budget allocated remained unapproved owing to which their salaries for past 11 months have not been released. For this purpose, they went on a protest outside the Federal Directorate of Education and locked down the main gate. The protesters shouted slogans against the officials and demanded that their salaries should be released immediately. Furthermore, the schedule issued by the Federal Directorate of Education stated that summer vacations in institutions run under the directorate will begin from June 3 while classes will resume from August 11. Moreover, the officials stated that the schedule will be applicable to all private schools in the capital. Subsequently, the Private Educational Institutional Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) had strictly barred the schools from receiving lump sum fees during the summer vacations.  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2019.