LG minister orders release of pays to Christian employees

Issues instructions for cleanliness arrangements for Christmas; police devise security plan


Our Correspondent December 24, 2020
People walk past an artificial decoration wreath hanging outside a shop selling various items for Christmas celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan, December 24, 2016. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

The Sindh government has announced the release of salaries to a Christian employees ahead of Christmas. Salaries should be issued to all Christian employees by Thursday (today), said Sindh Local Government (LG) Minister on Wednesday, while issuing directives pertaining to arrangements for Christmas.

No Christian employee should be deprived of advance salaries on the occasion of Christmas, he added, warning of taking strict action if he receives any complaints in this regard. He directed his department to ensure that the advance salaries are released for Christian employees in all local bodies by today.

He further directed LG institutions, including district municipal corporations, municipal corporations and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, to complete the arrangements for Christmas across the province.

The provincial LG minister particularly stressed ensuring cleanliness in the surroundings of churches and proper lighting arrangements at Christian places of worship.

"[Local bodies] should consult the management of churches on cleanliness and lighting at the places of worship," the minister added.

Security plan

Besides, the police have devised a security plan for Christmas and the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, both falling on December 25.

The plan for Karachi was finalised during a meeting chaired by Karachi Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon earlier this week.

In the meeting, SSPs briefed the participants about security arrangements, stating that 3,000 cops would be deployed across the city on the day.

A large contingent of police will be deployed around the Quaid's mausoleum for providing security for the change of guards ceremony and other events organised in connection with Jinnah's birth anniversary, the meeting was told.

Special Security Unit's snipers will be deployed on buildings in the vicinity of the Quaid's mausoleum and teams from the unit's SWAT force will be stationed across the city to deal with any untoward incident.

Memon has directed senior police officials to remain in the field on the nights of December 24 and December 25, besides instructing cops to take strict action against persons involved in the sale and purchase of liquor.

Cops have also been told to register cases against persons found involved in aerial firing, which is a non-bailable offence.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2020.

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