Employees want special grant for LGs

PESHAWAR: The United Municipal Workers Union on Monday urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to release a special grant to the Local Governments (LGs), warning that these grassroots bodies would be unable to pay salaries to the employees for the current month if finances were not provided.

The demand was made during a meeting of the All Pakistan Local Government Workers Federation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, chaired by its president, Malik Naveed Awan.The meeting emphasized that the grant should be disbursed based on needs rather than political considerations, ensuring that all local bodies receive the necessary funds.

The participants decided that LGs staff would go on strike from September 1 if the grant for the salaries payment was not released. They also called for the restoration of the two percent property transfer tax and a reduction in provincial and withholding taxes.

Additionally, the meeting urged the government to increase the rent of local government buildings through an ordinance.The participants opposed the transfer of Tehsil Municipal Administration employees to the Peshawar Development Authority and called for a permanent solution to the PLA account issue.

The meeting supported the Asaan Assignment Account, noting that it would help employees receive their salaries and pensions on time. However, they opposed the formation of a building control authority, arguing that it would hinder the functioning of local governments.

The federation also asked the KP government to release Rs 3.8 billion amount that it amount owed to LG governments since the Covid-19 Pandemic. An 18-point charter of demands was presented to the government during the meeting.

It may be mentioned here that the LG governments in KP have been facing funding issues for quite some time. The LG representatives believe that the lack of finances from the provincial government was affecting their functioning. They have staged protests in a bid to force the KP government to release their funds.