SHANGLA: The government employees here on Tuesday threatened agitation if they were not provided with charcoal to keep themselves warm in the current harsh weather conditions.
All Pakistan Government Employees Coordination Council, Shangla chapter, president Ismail Khan told a press conference in Alpuri Press Club that despite performing their duty in harsh winter conditions they were not being provided with charcoal. They claimed that the contractor was not willing to supply the commodity for the government employees in Shangla.
Office-bearers of associations of other departments, including Dr Ali, Dr Shabir, Fazal Hadi and Aftab Hussain, were also present on the occasion. Mr Khan said that the deputy commissioner was not cooperating with them on this matter.
“The government employees in the district would start agitation as well as observe pen-down strike if charcoal is not supplied to them by Thursday (tomorrow),” he warned. He said that charcoal was the only source for keeping themselves warm.
The council president claimed that charcoal and firewood were bought last year at Rs269 per 20 kilogramme, but this year the rate was reduced to Rs215 while obtaining contract by the contractor.
“The contractor can never supply the firewood and charcoal on this fixed rate,” he claimed and added that the problem surfaced every year and therefore the government should give its employees an allowance in their salaries for buying charcoal and firewood from the market.
They also demanded of the government to take action against the contractor.
