KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, has ordered two separate investigations against the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and the Labour Department.
This action was prompted by their failure to address issues related to the non-compliance of the Sindh Workers Welfare Fund and Sindh Workers Participation Fund and the failure of the Director General (DG) of Labour to register industrial units.
Justice Baqar expressed his concern that timely action by both organizations, the SRB and DG Labour, could have ensured the recovery of Rs16.4 billion for workers' funds.
The Chairman of SRB, Wasif Memon, reported that the missing fund payments from Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) and Workers Participation Fund (WPF) had been updated in the ledger of the Sindh High Court's Nazir. The ledger now reflects that 39 cases have deposited a total of Rs19.29 billion, out of which Rs6.75 billion has been recovered, resulting in a total amount of Rs26.03 billion.
The CM was informed that 78 non-compliant litigant fund payers have been issued 19 show-cause notices, demanding Rs35.97 billion, with the Sindh component amounting to Rs7 billion.
Regarding the non-payment by 54 industrial units amounting to Rs3.106 billion, the CM questioned the lack of action. The SRB team indicated that show-cause notices had now been issued to them. In response, the CM expressed his dissatisfaction and ordered a high-level inquiry to uncover the reasons behind this delay, emphasizing that these funds are meant for workers' welfare and should not be sacrificed for industrial units' interests.
Regarding the Labour Department, the CM was informed that 127 defaulting units owed Rs13.4 billion for workers' welfare and participation funds. It was revealed that these 127 units were unregistered. The CM expressed his displeasure and questioned the role of the Director General of Labour, instructing the Secretary of Labour and Secretary of Finance to conduct an inquiry and hold the delinquent officers accountable.
Justice Baqar also emphasized the need to ensure the proper functioning of various amenities at the Labour Square in Gulshan-e-Maymar, including a primary school, community center, dispensary, shops, mosques, and industrial homes. He committed to personally visiting the flats to assess the quality of the renovation work.
Furthermore, the CM noted that the electricity had not been restored despite the Workers Welfare Board's payment of a Rs7.5 million electricity bill for the Labour Square. He contacted the CEO of KE and directed them to restore electricity promptly.
The CM was informed about the removal of encroachments in Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad, involving 128 flats and 100 houses. Delays in the process were attributed to the Polio Campaign and Fertilizer Survey work, with the CM directing the authorities to take necessary actions immediately after the anti-polio drive and survey activities are completed.
