By Israr Ahmad Orakzai
PESHAWAR: Employees and pensioners of local government institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were campaigning for the release of funds to ensure the payment of salaries and pensions ahead of Eid al-Fitr.
The Local Government Employees Federation (Registered) said the provincial secretary for local government and rural development, Zafarul Islam Khattak, had moved swiftly to arrange a special grant for financially weak tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs).
According to officials, Khattak sought urgent financial data from TMAs across the province within three days and, after scrutiny by a review committee, prepared a formal summary requesting approval of a special grant for the payment of salaries and pensions to employees and retirees.
The summary was forwarded to the provincial finance department for approval. Khattak also contacted the finance secretary to seek the early release of Urban Immovable Property (UIP) tax funds collected by the excise department during the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, a high-level committee of local government officials was scheduled to meet on Monday to address objections raised by the law and finance departments regarding the proposal to ensure pension payments to retirees through Account-IV.
Federation sources said the grant from the finance department was expected to be released by Tuesday.
The federation also wrote to the speaker of the provincial assembly seeking implementation of the Service Structure Regulations 2023. It said a lawmaker was likely to raise the issue through a calling attention notice in the assembly, while efforts were under way to push for an eight-hour duty schedule for municipal watchmen, similar to the education department.
Federation leaders praised officials for their efforts to secure funds and urged the provincial government to release the grant immediately so low-paid municipal employees and pensioners could celebrate Eid with their families.
