Peshawar: Feb 6. KP Minister for Labour Fazal Shakoor Khan Visits Hazara Division
Directs Measures for Resolving Workers’ Issues at Suki Kinari Hydropower Project
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour, Fazal Shakoor Khan, paid a one-day visit to Hazara Division on Thursday, where he chaired a meeting at the office of Commissioner Hazara Division to address the issues faced by workers of the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project in Balakot. The minister issued immediate directives for the resolution of their concerns.
The meeting, presided over by the provincial minister, was attended by Commissioner Hazara Division Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam, Vice Commissioner of the Employees’ Social Security Institution (ESSI) Khurshid Alam, Director Labour Department Irfanullah, Deputy Director Labour Department Saqib Khan, representatives of Shaheen Labour Union, and project contractors.
During the meeting, the Vice Commissioner of ESSI briefed the participants about the objectives of the institution and highlighted the labour-related challenges in Hazara Division, particularly at the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project. It was informed that ESSI operates on a contributory basis without government funding, providing medical and cash assistance to workers employed in various commercial and industrial units.
Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan attentively listened to the concerns raised by the labour union and issued immediate directives for their resolution. He instructed the workers’ union to submit the cases of deceased workers to the relevant contractor company within three days. The contractor company must then review and verify these cases within seven days and inform the Deputy Director Labour Department accordingly.
The minister reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights, emphasizing that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, several initiatives have been undertaken in this regard. He highlighted the recent increase in the minimum monthly wage for workers from PKR 32,000 to PKR 36,000 as a significant step towards labour welfare.
Commissioner Hazara Division Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam assured that his office remains open at all times for the workers and their representative union. He directed the Director Labour Department to expedite the processing of gratuity cases for deceased workers within one month.
Later, Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan visited the Employees’ Social Security Institution (ESSI) dispensary in Abbottabad, where he reviewed the medical facilities being provided. He met with the staff and urged them to perform their duties with dedication and commitment.
