Apca demands increase in utility allowance.

SAHIWAL -- The All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca) has demanded an increase in utility allowance, saying it is the right of not only Punjab Secretariat employees but also of all government employees of the province.

The demand was made during a protest rally organised by the divisional chapter of Apca here on Saturday.

The rally, led by Apca Divisional President Khaliq Mahmood Awan, was held from Yadgar Chowk to the Commissioner Office.

Addressing the rally, Mr Awan said different payrolls for employees working in the same grade were not justifiable and demanded the same payroll for all public sector employees.

He said Apca demanded the PTI governments in Punjab and the Centre to remove this parity in salary. He said the Punjab government had recently moved a summary for increasing utility allowance for different grades, but this policy was not implemented in other parts of Punjab where employees had been working in the same grade and privilege.

Mr Awan said the ongoing price hike was affecting not just the Punjab Secretariat employees only but it was affecting the whole the employees in the whole clerical staff in the province and the utility allowance must be awarded to all of them. He also demanded filling of vacant posts in Punjab by upgrading the existing cadre.

Apca threatened to launch a province-wide protest and boycott to press for acceptance of its demands.

SEMINARS: Speakers in two seminars held in connection with the approaching Christmas stressed elimination of discrimination against the minorities in Pakistan.

...