1,224 free flats in labour colonies announced

CM orders payment of death, marriage grants

LAHORE:

Ordering the payment of death and marriage grants worth Rs6 billion to labourers, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has noted that the amount for 29,000 workers had not been by the previous government.

Chairing a meeting on the performance of the labour department, she alsso announced that 1,224 flats would be given to workers free of charge in the Taxila and Sunder labour colonies.

She also directed the authorities to build two hostels for women workers in the Garment City. ”Free accommodation will be provided to 704 women workers in Sheikhupura,”she added.

The chief minister also reviewed a scholarship programme and health facility projects for workers, besides reforms in the department, occupational safety and the implementation of the minimum wage law.

She said, ”The Punjab government has set a minimum wage of Rs37,000 per month in the current budget. It is our responsibility to protect the rights of every worker of Punjab.”

She instructed the department to immediately take all stakeholders into confidence to implement the minimum wage. She added, ”It is painful that every worker is not getting full wages.”

The chief minister also termed regrettable the lack of enforcement of the labour laws on domestic workers.

She called for ensure the implementation of safety protocols and SOPs at the workplaces.

The chief minister stressed the use of safety gear for sanitary staff while cleaning drains and manholes.

Meanwhile, Member of Provincial Assembly Adnan Afzal Chatha called on the chief minister and discussed issues related to innovation in technical education.

The CM said tghe number of prospective trainees under the skills development programme would be increased from 4,000 to 40,000. She said the Skills development training was free and market-driven courses would be added.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also invited position holder students of the Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and distributed trophies, certificates and prizes among them.

The CM awarded cheques worth Rs300,000 each to the students getting the first position, Rs200,000 to second position Rs100,000 for third position.

She announced payment of the fees of the position holders for higher education.

The students awarded on the occasion were Muhammad Kashif, Moeez Haider, Ubaid Ullah Usman, Maheen Sajjad, Ubera Asghar, Zainab Asif, Sehar Shakeel, Laiba, Ghulam Humayun Din, Ehteshamul Haq, Muhammad Farhan, Hifsa, Maira Imran, Hafiza Kainat Amir and Maira Khurram.

In another development, the chief minister held a video link meeting with a British educationist, Sir Michael Barber, to discuss reforms in the fields of education, health, air quality, solid waste management and revenue mobilisation.

The British expert presented a review of administrative and logistical measures for the implementation of new education policies. He also gave suggestions for teacher training and the use of technology in classrooms to provide modern education.