MULTAN,Feb 7th:As per routine, prices of fruits and vegetable at weekly bazaars of
Multan again witnessed a surge, making these items inaccessible for common man.
The bazaars, aimed at providing basic commodities to the people at reasonable rates, are providing no relief to residents, as there is no difference in prices at these bazaars and open market price. A shopkeeper at Sport Ground weekly bazaar observed that at present, hike in prices had cut down the sales of fruits sharply, and this situation might lead to decrease in prices, as people were unable to buy the fruits due to high prices. He said many people visited the bazaar but when they asked for rates they simply refused any deal. However, some of vegetables’ prices witnessed a decline in the pricelist issued by the local administration.
According to the list, several vegetables prices decreased from Rs one to Rs 5 as compared to the last week’s rates. On Sunday onions were being sold between Rs 125-135 per five kilogram, while capsicum was available at Rs 75-80 per kg, potatoes at Rs 85-90 per five kg, radish at Rs 10-15 per kg, Colocasia (arvi) at Rs 20 -22 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 20-25 per kg, ‘teenda’ at Rs 35-40 per kg, ladyfinger at Rs 100-120 per kg, carrot Rs 14 -16 per kg, Beet Rs 8 -12 per kg, eggplant Rs 20 -24, peas Rs 35 -40 per kg and tomatoes between Rs 40-50 per kg.According to the rate lists of different fruit items at Sunday Bazaars in Sports ground, Madni Chowk,Mumtazabad and Shah Shams apple (Kala Kallu) was available between Rs 100-120 per kg, Apple (Golden) Rs 90-100 per kg, Apple (Ambri-Mashadi) Rs 50-55 per kg, Apple (China Golden) Rs 100-110 per kg, Banana (first) Rs 50-60 per dozen, Banana (second) Rs 30-35 per dozen, Orange (Punjab) Rs 60 -65 per dozen, Orange (Khanpur) Rs 80-100 per dozen, Pomegranate (Qandhari) Rs 220-230 per kg, Guava (first) Rs 50-55 per kg, Guava (second) Rs -30-40 per kg and pear Rs 110 per kg. The chicken was being sold at Rs 110 per kg, eggs at Rs 62 per dozen in the weekly bazaars which is out of reach for common man. The prices of River Fish remained Rs 250-350 per kg; Farm Fish Rs 200-250 per kg and Simon Fish Rs 150-175 per kg.However, fruit and vegetable vendors at different places were witnessed selling fruits without displaying rate lists at their stalls to charge extra rates from public. The consumers complained that the vendors were violating rate lists issued by the authorities concerned and on the other hand shoppers alleged that there was no check on the prices of vegetables and fruits. They said when they asked a vegetable vendor to show the price list, he failed to do so. Shoppers have demanded the authorities to take action against the violators. Besides, some fruits were being sold at at cheaper rates than markets. Shoppers also complained of overcharging, sale of substandard fruits and vegetables and non-availability of good quality items in the open market.The authorities have failed to check quality and rates of the commodities, they added. An official of the concerned department told this scribe that the authorities check the prices on regular basis and they were also taking strict actions in case of any malpractice.
Besides, the cleanliness in these bazaars was quite unsatisfactory. Heaps of garbage can be seen and due to rain the whole place gets muddy creating problems for the buyers. “The market committee charges Rs 40 per week from every stallholder but failed to provide any facility to them. We even clean the place on Sunday morning before starting the business,” said stallholders. These Sunday bazaars lack proper security measures and there was a need to enhance the security to avoid any untoward incident.
MULTAN,June 8th:Meat Association of Pakistan (MAP) Multan Chapter President Shaikh Kalim-ullah has warned that if the immediate ban on export of the animals was not imposed by the government then the meat crisis will be aggravating in Pakistan after the electricity, gas, flour, fertilizers and other crises. He said that the owners of the sheep, lambs, goats and other animals (across Pakistan) were reluctant to supply their animals to the local markets in Pakistan, as they (owners) were getting higher prices by exporting the animals to the other countries.Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday he said that after the meat exports, now the larger scale unabated export of the animals has also started to the Middle East and Gulf from Pakistan, due to which, the meat crisis was aggravating following the shortage of the animals in Pakistan. The owners and traders of the animals were exporting their animals to the Middle East and Gulf states instead of supplying these animals to the local markets, unabatedly. Meat Association Multan Chapter President expressed grave concern over this critical situation and demanded immediate ban on the exports of the animals to. He said that the meat was being exported to the several Middle East and Gulf States including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan earlier. He said that now the direct export of the animals has also started to these states. He alleged that this nasty practice still goes unabated and unchecked. He said that there was a great demand and shortage of the animals in the local markets across Pakistan caused by traders. He said that this situation had become unbearable for the butchers because the rates of the mutton and beef were rising day by day due to great extant, making the mutton and beef out of the reach of the common man. He said that the traders and the owners of the animals were directly involved in these export of the animals, as they were getting higher profits through the exports of the animals instead of exporting the meat to the above-mentioned Middle East and Gulf atates. He said that they should prove their loyalty with the country and Pakistani nation by stopping the exports of the animals in the larger national interest.
He said that this nasty situation was resulting in to the great shortage of the animals and the butchers were unable to find the animals. He said that the rates of the mutton have been jumped to Rs.400/kg and beef at the rate of Rs250/kg.
MULTAN, June 8th:Taking advantage of announcement of the annual budget 2010-11, traders particularly hoarders/ wholesalers have increased the prices of kitchen items by 10 to 20 per cent in the open market after announcement of the revealed a survey conducted by this scribe in Multan on Tuesday. Prices of pulses have alarmingly increased by Rs10 to Rs25 per kilogram.In the wholesale market, ‘daal mash’ is being sold for Rs170 per kilogram against its pre-budget rate of Rs160, ‘daal moong’ is selling for Rs120 per kilogram against Rs100, ‘daal masoor’ Rs110 against Rs100, ‘daal sabut moong’ Rs125 against Rs100 per kilogram. Similarly, the price of sugar has also increased. A 50-kilogram bag of sugar is being sold for Rs2,980 against its previous price of Rs2,950 in the wholesale market. The price of red chillies has increased by Rs300 per 40 kilograms as it is selling for Rs6,800 against its pre-budget price of Rs6,500. ‘Haldi’ is being sold for Rs10,500 against Rs9,600 per 40 kilograms.A sharp increase has been registered in prices of all brands of milk powder. A one-kilogram pack of milk powder is now being sold for Rs425 against its previous price of Rs370 in the wholesale market.
The budget announcement also affected vegetable prices as ginger is being sold for Rs200 per kilogram against Rs160, ‘arvi’ Rs60 against Rs50, ‘phalian’ Rs60 against Rs50 and peas Rs60 against Rs50. Five-kilogram potatoes are being sold for Rs120 against Rs100 and five-kilogram onions are available for Rs110 against Rs100 in vegetable market.Khawaja Muhammad Shafiq chairman of Traders Alliance, criticising the Budget 2010-11, said that people would face 10 to 15 per cent abrupt inflation due to imposition of one per cent increase in general sales tax (GST). He said that the government is preparing people for Value Added Tax (VAT), which is likely to be imposed in July. He said that the government failed to achieve the set tax target of Rs1,667 billion and could collect only Rs1,380 billion. The outstanding tax stands at Rs287 billion, which would be recovered from poor people. He said that the government has offered rebate on electricity, but the common man could not get benefit from this facility.Cigarette dealers/retailers have increased the prices of popular brands like Gold-leaf, Benson & Hedges, by Rs.20 per packet and low-grade brands increased by Rs.10. Similarly Prices of Electronic appliances, Deep freezerss, Air-conditioners increased by ten percent. All Pakistan Wholesale Association President Haji Ikram said that the inflation would increase by 10 to 15 per cent due to imposition of one per cent general sales tax in the Budget 2010-11. Sugar prices would further increase by Rs3 to Rs5 per kilogram in a couple of days, he added.He criticised the government for imposing 0.3 per cent with holding tax on transaction of money from banks, which would directly affect the common man through traders, he said.All Pakistan Poultry Association Ex-President Syed Tahir Ali Zaidi condemned the government for imposing general sales tax. He said that the government is trying to prepare the public for imposition of VAT. After the imposition of VAT, the inflation ratio would further increase up to 30 per cent, he said. He added that one-kilogram chicken would sell for Rs200 if VAT and general sales tax were imposed.Multan Cantonment Traders Association President Malik Nazir Ahmed Awan, strongly opposing the government policies, said that the finance minister tried to present the budget speech tactfully. "There is nothing for the poor in the budget as prices of all items would further increase soon," he said. The sword of VAT is hanging over the public but the masses are ready to resist this brutal tax, he added.
MULTAN,June 6th: Ashfaq Ahmed Khan Secretary General of federation of workers Union ,Khalid Mehmood Sanghera Divisional President of All Pakistan Clerks Association(APCA), MDA's employees Union President Shah Wali Rajput and other Government employees unions have hailed the Government's announcement regarding raising 50 % salaries of Grade one to 15 employees and 100 percent in Medical allowance, increasing the ceiling of income tax from Rs.200000 to 3,00,000,raising of 50 and 15 per cent in the pay and medical allowance of the basic salary – from Grade-16 to Grade-22 for the last sum only respectively - in the federal budget on the face is a positive step by the government-being-run-on-debts, but certainly it is not going to solve a lot of issues being faced by the lower-tier public servants.
Moreover, Grade-1 to Grade-15 of the federal government would get 100 per cent increase under the head of the medical allowances. Nevertheless, this announcement has also pleased the Punjab government’s employees since they are expecting that the provincial government will also announce the same for them. However, on the other hand, certain quarters believe that for the higher grades, it does not mater whether the government increases the pay even by 100 per cent because they are already having the best of times. “It is certainly good news for all those who are still surviving and running their houses by spending their pays only,” opined a senior officer. He was of the considered opinion that apparently an effort had been made at curtailing corruption, which was a huge blot on the Centre’s working. No doubt, this good step of increasing pays, medical allowance and pensions has its bearings on the already beleaguered economy of the country, and it will added more pressure to the ever-shrinking public exchequer.
As per available data, Pakistan’s public sector has a sanctioned staff of over 3.4 million persons. The civilian work force, excluding Armed Forces, consists of 2.8 million, which is divided as autonomous bodies 390,000, federal government 376,000, civilians paid out of Defence 162,000, Punjab government 902,000, Sindh 478,000, Khyber PK 300,000 and Balochistan 166,000. “The highest in the list is the Punjab, which has around 1million employees, who are drawing salaries as per their service structure. But on the other hand, the provincial government is having a large number of chairmen task forces, media and political advisors – besides repeated recruitments being made – who are already enjoying huge pays, perks and privileges,” maintained the officers, while pointing out that the federal government has virtually tightened noose around the necks of the provinces, especially the ones which are really cash-strapped. “Now the Punjab government’s around one million employees are anxiously waiting about the provincial government’s response in the fiscal outlay 2010-11, which is morally bound to toe Centre’s line,” said the officer.
As per the sources of the Finance Department, it would be a difficult time ahead for the provincial unit since the government was said to be running on over-draft. “Salaries are being paid in time certainly, while the rest is being done at the end of every month after the taxes are collected. We are already facing financial crunch, and payments through cheques are repeatedly stopped, and delaying of contractors’ bills is a routine,” confided the source, adding that the federal government had different pools, and could draw money from different sources to carryout its business.
However, the FD has been officially denying any such assertions by maintaining that the financial position of government was very strong and it never took a loan of Rs 80 billion – ‘may be less than this’. The spokesperson said Punjab had returned Rs 9 billion from its outstanding loans, while the payment of loan was being made regularly, and it had Rs 17 billion in its account, a proof of its stable financial position. “Punjab’s response in the coming budget will make everything clear regarding its financial position,” observed the source.
MULTAN,May Ist: More than a dozen big rallies were organised in Multan by the trade Unions, political parties, Social and cultural organisations to pay homage to martyrs of Chicago who laid down their lives for the cause of workers conditions.Industrial workers hailed the new labour policy ,increasing minimum wages to Rs.7000/month, abrogation of all black laws, promulgation of Industrial Relations Act-2010,restoration of right of strike and restitution of all usurped rights. People's Labour Bureau organised a rally from ailway station to Multan Press Club under the leadership ofKhurshid Ahmed Khan, Khawaja Rizwan Alam, Syed Akhtar Shah. This rally was also joined by People's unity of PIA,People's Unity of WASA, Railway Mehnat Kash Union,SNGPL Employees Union, MDA enmployees Union, State Life staff union, Workers Union of NaurozeAssociates, Kiln-workers Union, Mazdoor Ittehad, New Muslim Rickshaw Union, PRTC retired workers union .PTUDC and the Pakistan People's Party organised the main May Day rally. More than 200 people attended the rally. The rally was led by Ilyas Khan, B. A Jigar and comrade Asad Patafi the Multan city organiser of the PTUDC and PPP leader. The main guests were comrade B. A Jigar and comrade Asad Patafi. The speakers were from the trade unions of railways, fertilisers, postal workers, textile industry, telecommunications, water and electricity and some other industries. The participants of the rally pledged their full support for these comrades and vowed to continue the campaign and struggle until their release. Several trade unionists opted to join in the ranks of the PTUDC by agreeing to its socialist programme as the only way out of this misery of capitalist rule.A mazdoor conference was organised by PML-Q and chaired by Provincial president of labour wing Rana Abdul Hafeez, Pakistan WAPDA Hydro-electric Central union took out a rally from Bakhtiar memorial hall which terminated at Gaddafi chowk.Mutahidda Shehri Mahaz ,Justice & Peace Commission,National Labour Federation Punjab,People's lawyers Forum, Pakistan Seraiki Party ,Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party,Women workers Federation , Workers Party of Pakistan also organised rallies. Local industrialists did not observe the holday on "May-day" and not let their workers to join the rallies.Similarly daily wagers also performed their duties.
MULTAN, Feb 12th: HBL employees federation 's central chairman Syed Kaswar Razi has denounced the regional bodies in Multan and other regions announced byHabib workers front describing them unlawful because National Industrial Relations commission did not approve the CBA union as yet. Talking to newsmen here on friday alongwith Manzoor Durrani, ,Akram Mastoi,Tariq Mumtaz, Syed Sajid Shah, Baqar Shah , Aziz Mailsi and Mazhar shah, Syed Kaswar Razi said that two cases were pending against the HBL Worker with NIRC and Sindh High Court. He asked how can workers front form bodies at regional level when it could not get the CBA certificate from the NIRC. He asked the habib Bank management to demand the list central body and regional bodies duly approved by the NIRC.
MULTAN, Feb 11th: At the call of All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA),employees of grade one to 15 of Irrigation, special education, education, Excise and Taxation, works and highways, Health ,WASA, MDA on Thursday organized a big rally under the leadership of Khalid Sanghera, Rana Muhammad ishaq, Mukhtar Rathore to protest against the price hike of essential commodities in Multan . They were shouting slogans in favour of their demands while shirtless workers were beating their chests. Later they staged a demonstration in front of Multan Press Club.Addressing the demonstrators the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) leaders demanded the immediate raise in salaries at least by 200 per cent, besides medical allowance of Rs 2,000 per month and 60 per cent increase in house rent. Khalid Mehmood Sanghera divisional President demanded the federal government to shun discriminations among low-scale civil servants of all the four provinces and treat them equally. He presented a charter of demand and appealed the government to take a revolutionary step by launching some suitable projects for the betterment of low-scale employees.Elaborating the problems of grade 1 to 16 civil servants, he said the government was showing immaturity in solving their problems and ignoring this class.
Sanghera said the employees of Azad Kashmir, NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh have been enjoying house facility for last 16 years but the employees of Punjab were being deprived of this facility. The government should prioritize to provide maximum facilities to the unprivileged class like clerks and all types of workers. He strongly opposed the deduction in clerk’s salaries on pretext of group insurance scheme because this scheme amounts to financial murder of the government employees.He also demanded the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to revise the old pay structure. Addressing on the occasion Rana Muhammad ishaq said if government justifies the house budget of civil servant in his limited salary then APCA would call off protest demonstration. He said the survival of daily wagers in local government board was at stake and for this reason they put their children on sale.He rejected the government policy of constructed house ownership, which will be allotted at the time of employee’s retirement after paying 1.6 million. He suggested that government should allot plots while the employees themselves would construct their houses, as they feel convenient. Malik Athar Haider said the government should also restore Hajj quota for low scale employees.
MULTAN, Feb 9th:All Pakistan Clerks Association on Tuesday staged demonstrations as a protest against price hike, non implementation on the pay & pension committee, the shifting of offices of Agriculture department to Chak-5 Faiz, some 15 km away from Multan city.A faction of APCA organised a rally from Education offices to Chungi No.6 under the leadership of Abdul Razzaq Baloch and staged a demonstration. Earlier they organised a public meeting in education office which was attended by as large number of clerks and grade one to 15 employees, Another faction held a protest meeting against the exapnsion of agriculrtural complex and shifting of offices.Later they organised a rally under the leadership of Rana Iqbal Noon.All the employees of Government and Semi Government departments and autonomous bodies on Tuesday observed pen down strike and boycotted their professional duties at the call of APCA.Later they organised a big rally from Bosan road to Multan press club under the leadership of Khalid Mehmood Sanghera
MULTAN,Feb 9th:Senior auditors, auditors of Federal Board of Revenue on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of MUltan Press Club at the call of All Pakistan FBR auditors/Senior Auditors Association as a protest against the prolonged delay in their promotions within the new organisational structure of the inland revenue service (IRS).Local leaders of Auditors/ Senior Auditors Welfare Association said," we are on strike and we have stopped our professional duties / assignments like recovery proceedings, adjudication, verification of refund claims, and enforcement of other provisions of the sales tax act,1990. They said that association would continue the strike followed by rallies, demonstrations and presentation at different fora like parliaments, press and judiciary.Participants of demo shouted slogans in favour of their demands and against the FBR bureaucracy which is main hurdle in their promotions.
