Irrigation dept employees warn of protest

Say flawed policies have paralysed sector while corruption is at its peak

QUETTA: The Muttahida Labour Federation and Balochistan Irrigation Employees Union on Tuesday urged the provincial government to address issues of irrigation employees, threatening to hold a protest outside chief engineer office on February 17.

Addressing a joint news conference on Tuesday, President of Muttahida Labour Federation Ali Baksh Jamali and President Irrigation Employees Union Allah Baksh Kurd alleged that the government was dividing the irrigation department while corruption had also reached its peak.

“Irrigation department was considered as the most functional unit of the province but flawed policies have paralysed irrigation department’s drilling directorate and divisions,” the disgruntled employees said, as they announced they will stage a protest on February 17 if the provincial government doesn’t address their issues.

They said irrigation officers had sold departmental land and machinery and added that equipment in Kirthar Canal, Pat Feeder and Hub Canal was ruined.

The union leaders in a press conference announced a sit-in outside chief engineer office if their demands are not met.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2020.