Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: Like other parts of the country, the International Labour Day was observed in Khyber Agency on Tuesday with renewal of the pledge for protection of rights of workers.

In this connection, a rally attended by a number of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) tribal leaders, workers and tribesmen under the auspices of PPP Khyber Agency chapter was taken out from hospital square to Landi Kotal Press Club where it was converted into a public gathering.

It was a national holiday and all government and private organisations, educational institutions and markets remained close to observe Labour Day.

Speaking on the occasion, People Youth Organisation (PYO) Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) President Gul Bahadar Afridi, People Students Federation (PSF) FATA President Siraj Khan, PPP Landi Kotal President Altaf Afridi and PYO Landi Kotal President Shah Rahman said that the purpose of the moot was to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in Chicago in 1886 for the rights of the labourers and to urge the government to initiate welfare projects and schemes for labourers.

They were of the opinion that PPP was the only political party that in true sense was advocating for the rights of labourers and had formulated pro-labour policies in every tenure of its government. The speakers condemned the incumbent government restricted projects, imposed at Torkham border, leaving thousands of people jobless and urged for granting alternative source of income for them.

They demanded minimum wage equal to price of 10 grammes gold to be set for the labourer. It is to be mentioned that May 1 was a national holiday and all government and private organisations, educational institutions and markets remained close to observe Labour Day.

Published in Daily Times, May 2^nd 2018.