A parliamentary panel Tuesday expressed displeasure over Ministry of Finance for continuous delay in resolving the problems of hundreds of protesting employees of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) who are demanding the outstanding arrears amounting to Rs 2.7 billion for the period 2013-17. The sub-committee of the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, which met with Senator Rubina Irfan in the chair, was given a briefing by senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and NCHD.
The committee, however, expressed dissatisfaction and displeasure over the failure on the part of the Ministry of Finance in resolving the issues despite prior assurances and called secretary finance on Wednesday (today) to explain as to why the issue was not resolved.
Hundreds of employees of the NCHD from grade one to 19 have been protesting for the last 50 days in front of National Press Club for the fulfillment of their demands, prominently implementation on Islamabad High Court's verdict with regard to pay fixation, payment of arrears as per revised pay scales from 2013 amounting to Rs 2.7 billion, and approval and implementation of government service rules.
Convener of the Committee, Robina Irfan took strong exception of the senior officials of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Professional Training and NCHD for shifting blames on one another and citing the absence of government service rules and other technical issues as hindrances in resolving the problems of NCHD employees. "If we are unable to find a solution despite various meetings then the high officials of the concerned ministries also have no right to remain on their slots. This is not appropriate to attend meetings for claiming TA/DA only, but with no solution to the problem," said Senator Nisar Mohammad, who also expressed displeasure over the attitude of officials of the Ministry of Finance. He said that after the court verdict there was no justification left with the Ministry of Finance to hold the arrears of the NCHD employees on the pretext of technicalities.
The additional secretary finance was of opinion that the NCHD employees were given salaries for two months, saying NCHD has not sent original letter to claim the arrears; rather, a photo copy of the letter was sent. However, officials of NCHD insisted that original letter was sent to the Ministry of Finance for the purpose.
Senator Mukhtar Ahmad Dhamrah said that it was the wastage of public money as well as time of the committee due to the blame game of the institutions against one another. He suggested that matter should be reported back to the main committee due to continued deadlock on it and to find a solution to the issue.
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