Daily Times

The regularisation issue of 1,750 daily-wage employees of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is on the verge of a permanent solution.

This was claimed by Prime Minister’s Adviser on the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Awan who is also elected MNA from Islamabad. Awan said that he personally taken up the daily wagers issue. “As a public representative, resolving all kinds of issues in the capital was in my fundamental responsibilities while the FDE and its employees were not ignorable as they are most integral part of the Capital”, he said.

There are around 1,750 daily-wage employees including teaching and non-teaching cadres working in the 423 educational institutions of the FDE. The issue of the regularisation of around 1,750 daily wage employees lingered since the past many years. The issue has also been taken up in different courts, as well as parliamentary standing committees. The different committees including Supreme Court and High Courts given verdicts in favour these employees.

Speaking to journalists in his office, Awan said revealed that he has arranged the meetings with FDE authorities and daily wagers representatives in this regard.

“I convened a meeting in the FDE in recent in which daily-wage’s legal counsel, two counsel of the directorate along with its senior officials and some other stakeholders were called to brief me on the matter”, he explained adding two neutral counsels were also consulted for the meeting so that definite way out of the issue could be sought.

“Almost 90 percent work has been accomplished in this regard”, Awan said adding that he will hold a meeting with education minister Shafqat Mehmood and finance Minister Asad Umer to get their final consent over the matter. To replying a question either his party will take action against some fake or unqualified employees those were inducted in light of Khursheed Shah Committee recommendations in 2011, Awan made it clear that not a single employee will be terminated.

“To make someone jobless is not in the manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. So, it’s time to move forward instead ‘pick holes’ in predecessor governments’ decisions”, he promised.

Awan told the journalists that to disclose the strategy under which the regularisation would come into practices is too early

According to the information, on the daily wagers announced on February 12 that they may hold a mega strike in the city in against the government in favor of their issue in coming days.

Soon after Awan came to know about the employees’ decision for strike against the government, he rushed to FDE very next day and convened a meeting with the directorate’ authorities and daily-wage’ representatives.

During a meeting, Awan, who is also member of the NA standing committee on education, FDE Director General Ali Ahmed Kharal and representatives of the daily-wage employees discussed the issue of regularization solely.

One of the teachers who were part of meeting disclosed that they were assured by the PM advisor that the government would consider their cases in accordance with rules and regulations.

Awan told the journalists that to disclose the strategy under which the regularisation would come into practices is too early. However, he assured that the directions of Islamabad High Court (IHC) would be implemented.

He said for the first time the government released salaries and cleared all out-standing dues of daily-wage employees on time.

Awan also disclosed that establishment of 8 new schools in the capital is also proposed and all documentation in this regard has been completed.

While highlighting some other planned developments capital territory, PM advisor said “we are currently focusing on E-12, where development work will be started in a few days. Then we will move towards I-12, I-15 and others”

He added that the project for bringing water from Tarbela Dam to the twin cities will be executed by all means and that Rs500 million will be released for the project in the ongoing fiscal year. He also claimed that two new graveyards will be established in Shah Allah Ditta and Bhara Kahu as, he said, current tow graveyards in the city became almost been full. “To find some alternate is most necessary for to cope with ever increasing number of population in the capital”, he reaffirmed.

Published in Daily Times, February 17^th 2019.