Latest news with #TMAs
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Lockout looms over salary, pension crisis
The Capital Metropolitan Government Peshawar is reeling under a crippling financial crisis that has left its workforce without salaries and pensions for months, forcing employees to announce a complete strike and lockout beginning August 19. According to union representatives, serving staff have not received their salaries for the month of July, while retired employees remain deprived of pensions, commutation, encashment, and death grants for the last six months. The non-payment, they say, has pushed hundreds of families to the brink of starvation. The decision to go on strike was finalized during a meeting of the United Municipal Workers Union, chaired by Ismail Khan and attended by the union's cabinet members. The union resolved that all CMGP offices would be locked down and employees would stage a protest rally from the main directorate to Assembly Chowk. All municipal services, including sanitation, water supply, and street maintenance, will remain suspended until demands are met. "August is almost ending, but our families are still without pay," several employees lamented. They appealed to the provincial government, the minister for local government, the secretary local government, and the secretary local council board to release a special grant immediately. They demanded that the funds be used strictly for salaries and pensions and not diverted elsewhere. The crisis has been building for months. In June, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Employees Federation had raised concerns over the provincial government's inadequate release of grants to financially weak local councils. Despite repeated appeals, allocations fell far short of actual requirements. In an official statement at the time, federation leaders had revealed that the Finance Department had released Rs360.4 million and Rs150 million for settled areas and Rs71 million for merged areas. However, these allocations barely covered the genuine needs of the respective Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs). Union leaders criticized the provincial authorities for ignoring ground realities, pointing out that approved amounts often fail to match the demands submitted by struggling TMAs. In some cases, the weakest councils received no funds at all. The consequences have been dire for employees and pensioners alike. Many were unable to receive their dues in time for Eidul Fitr, while others faced the same crisis again during Eidul Azha. The delays deprived them of the means to meet religious and family obligations, including Qurbani. They warned that unless the government ensures timely and fair disbursement of funds, the lockout and suspension of essential municipal services in Peshawar will continue indefinitely.
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P grant shortfall sparks LG fury
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Employees Federation has expressed strong concern over the provincial government's inadequate release of grants for the payment of salaries and pensions to employees and pensioners of financially weak local government institutions. In an official statement, provincial leaders of the federation said that despite the relentless efforts of the organization, the Finance Department recently issued directives to release grants amounting to Rs360.400 million and Rs150 million for settled areas, and Rs71 million for merged areas. However, these grants fall significantly short of meeting the actual financial needs of the respective Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs). The federation criticized the provincial authorities for not considering ground realities before releasing the grants. They emphasized that such insufficient allocations are a recurring issue. Often, the approved amounts do not reflect the genuine demands submitted by TMAs, and in some cases, grants are denied altogether to the most financially vulnerable councils. As a result, many local government employees and pensioners were unable to receive their dues in time for Eidul Fitr and now face similar hardships ahead of Eidul Azha. The delay in grant approval further complicates the situation, as the funds do not reach the local bodies in time, leaving employees and pensioners without the means to perform religious obligations, including Qurbani (sacrifice). Leaders of the Local Government Employees Federation, including Patron-in-Chief Shaukat Kayani, Chairman Mehboobullah, President Haji Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat, and General Secretary Sulaiman Khan Hoti, strongly urged the provincial government to ensure that grant approvals are based on actual financial needs rather than favoritism or outdated formulas. They called for the timely and fair disbursement of grants.
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt releases Rs340 million for salaries, pensions in 17 tehsils
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has released Rs340 million to ensure the payment of salaries and pensions to employees in 17 tehsils across the province. According to a statement issued by the Finance Department, funds have been disbursed to cover outstanding payments of salaries and pensions for the staff of 17 Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs). The breakdown of the allocations is as follows: TMA Lower Tanawal Rs3 million, Bannu Rs34 million, Kakki Rs15 million, Bakakhel Rs21 million, Charsadda Rs20 million, Khall Rs10 million, Kundai Rs20 million, Karak Rs27 million, Takht-e-Nasrati Rs20 million, Lakki Marwat Rs23 million, Dargai Rs1 million, Takht Bhai Rs23 million, Garhi Kapura Rs20 million, Pishtakhara Rs34 million, Chota Lahore Rs23 million and Barikot Rs3 million. The funds are aimed at easing financial pressures and ensuring timely payments to municipal staff. It may be recalled that in March this year, the Finance Department had released Rs1.15 billion to cover salaries and pensions for the employees of 64 tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs) across the province, addressing months of delayed payments that had sparked widespread protests. According to official sources, the funds cover the period from January to March 2025. Haripur Tehsil received the highest allocation, with Rs100 million earmarked for its workforce. The release of funds came in the wake of growing unrest among local government employees, who had announced plans to stage protests during Ramazan if their dues were not cleared. Workers affiliated with the Municipal Workers Union (MWU) and Pakistan Local Government Workers Federation (PLGWF) had threatened to take to the streets, blaming the provincial government for ignoring their grievances. In a joint press statement, PLGWF Central and Provincial President Malik Muhammad Naveed Awan, and other union leaders from across the province condemned the delays in salary and pension payments.
Associated Press
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Western Highways Traffic Safety Enhances Roadway Safety Nationwide
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