KARACHI: Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar ordered two separate inquiries against Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and Labour Department for their failure to act against non-complaints of Sindh Workers Welfare Fund and Sindh Workers Participation Fund and failure [of DG Labour] to register industrial units respectively.

“If both organisations-SRB and DG Labour had taken timely action recovery of Rs 16.4 billion for workers fund could have been ensured.”

Presiding over joint meeting of SRB, SESSI and  Workers Welfare Board attended by Minister Law Omar Soomro, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, PSCM Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Labour Shariq Ahmad, Chairman SRB Wasif Memon, Secretary Law Ali Ahmad Baloch, Commissioner SESSI Saleem Khuhro, Secretary Workers Welfare Board and others. Chairman SRB Wasif Memon told CM that missing amount of fund payers-Workers Welfare Fund and Workers Participation Fund have been updated in ledger of Nazir of Sindh High Court and now Nazir ledger reflects that there were 39 cases who have deposited Rs 19.29 billion against which Rs 6.75 billion and now total amount has come to Rs 26.03 billion.

CM was told that 78 non-compliant litigant fund payers have been issued 19 show-cause notices by raising demand of Rs 35.97 billion in which Sindh component would come to Rs 7 billion.

CM was told that there were 54 industrial units that owed Rs 3.106 billion. At this, CM questioned that no action had been taken against them. SRB team said that they have now issued them show-cause notices. CM expressing his displeasure ordered high-level inquiry against SRB to unearth motives behind lethargy. ‘These are funds meant for workers but due to vested interest industrial units are given favour at cost of welfare of workers which is not acceptable at any cost,” CM said. 

CM was told that there were 127 defaulting units that owed Rs 13.4 billion in head of workers’ welfare and participation funds. To question, he was told that these 127 units were unregistered. CM expressed his displeasure and said that what Director General Labour was doing. “DG Labour is responsible for registering industrial units but even then, they fail to do so,” he said and ordered Secretary Labour and Secretary Finance to conduct an inquiry and fix responsibility against delinquent officers.

CM was told that in Labour Square, Gulshan-e-Maymar there were 1,000 flats. Interim Chief Minister had directed Workers Welfare Board to renovate them and allot those flats that were vacant.

In compliance with interim CM orders out of 32 Blocks comprising 1,000 flats, 15 blocks of 480 flats have been rehabilitated and are ready to occupy. Remaining 17 Blocks of 520 flats would be rehabilitated by November 2023.

Justice Baqar directed Workers Welfare Board to ensure functioning of Primary school, community center, dispensary, shops, masajid and industrial homes. CM said he would personally visit flats meet with residents and assess quality of renovation works.

CM was told that Workers Welfare Board had paid an Rs 7.5 million electricity bill of labour square but even then electricity has not been restored. CM during meeting talked to CEO KE and directed him to get electricity restored by evening.

CM was told that 128 Flats in Hyderabad and 100 houses at Shaheed Benazirabad were under illegal occupation, in this regard interim CM had issued necessary instructions for removal of encroachment. District administration and police have made necessary arrangements to evacuate these Flats/Houses Workers Welfare Board Sindh.

CM was informed process has been delayed due to Polio Campaign and Fertilizer Survey work. Chief Minister directed concerned authorities to take necessary actions just after getting free from anti-polio drive and survey.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 24 2023

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