Pakistan

SC to reinstate 17000 sacked employees

Published

6 months ago

December 17, 2021

RTA

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to reinstate 17000 government employees who were left jobless after the apex court annulled the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance Act, 2010.

A five-judge bench is hearing a set of petitions seeking review of the annulment under which nearly 17,000 government employees were rendered jobless.

On Friday, the top court ruled that the 2010 law conflicted with the Constitution and instructed authorities to reinstitute employees who were sacked between 1996 and 1999.

“Workers who were fired on the grounds of misconduct and corruption won’t be reinstated,” Justice Umar Ata Bandial said, adding that the employees who were required to take the test at the time of recruitment will have to sit for the test again.

It was also decided that the employees would be reinstated at the same grades on which they were dismissed.

The decision was passed by a majority of four is to one. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah accepted the request to review the judgment.

Earlier, at a hearing on Wednesday, the federal government presented a formula in court:

Employees from grade 1 to grade 7 would be reinstated without any preconditions.
Employees from grade 8 to grade 17 will have to take a test conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission. The test will be held within three months and meanwhile, they would be considered ad hoc or temporary employees.
The government would not take back the money given to the employees in salaries and perks.

Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan told the court that its decision to annul the sacked employees act had left 5,947 employees from 38 federal institutions jobless.

Justice Qazi Amin said the Supreme Court did not order to sack any employee and it had only annulled the law.

The sacked employees, on the other hand, have reportedly rejected the government proposal.

In 2010, the Pakistan Peoples Party government passed the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance Act, 2010 shortly after it promulgated an ordinance to reinstate over 16,000 government employees who were sacked in 1996 by the then Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government.

Pakistan

NEPRA likely to increase electricity rates by Rs. 4.33 per unit

Published

6 months ago

December 20, 2021

RTA

The electricity rate for consumers is predicted to increase by Rs. 4.33 per unit under monthly fuel cost adjustments for November as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has received a request for the increase from Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA).

The NEPRA will conduct a hearing on the request on December 29.

The CPPA has stated in the application that 8.24 billion units of electricity had been generated in the month of November with a cost of Rs66 billion.

“Diesel and furnace oil generated the most expensive electricity, costing Rs20 to Rs27 per unit, and LNG generated electricity, costing Rs17 to Rs20 per unit.”

It further stated that Pakistan also imported electricity from Iran at a rate of Rs13 to Rs35 per unit price. On the line losses, the electricity of Rs20 was used.

The electricity consumers would have to bear an additional burden of Rs40 billion on account of an increase in the power tariff in case NEPRA approves the hike requested by CPPA.

Featured

COAS, Saudi FM discuss matters of mutual interest, regional security

Published

6 months ago

December 20, 2021

RTA

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa says the 17th extraordinary session of OIC is extremely important to channelize international efforts and save Afghanistan from looming security and humanitarian crises.

He was talking to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, who called on him in Rawalpindi.

Matters of mutual interest, regional security, current situation in Afghanistan and bilateral defence relations were discussed during the meeting.

The Army Chief also emphasized that peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute is essential for stability in South Asia.

He reiterated that Pakistan wants cordial ties with all its neighbors in pursuit of regional peace and prosperity.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, specially its efforts for border management and its role in regional stability.

Pakistan

New Zealand to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-2023

Published

6 months ago

December 20, 2021

RTA

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that it will tour Pakistan two times in the year 2022-2023. This was announced by Pakistan Cricket Board’s media release.

“New Zealand Cricket has confirmed it will tour Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs in December/January 2022-23 as part of the Future Tours Programme and will return in April 2023 for 10 white-ball matches to make up for the September 2021 abandoned tour,” reads a statement by the PCB.

The announcement followed discussions between the NZC and PCB chairmen.

The two Tests and three ODIs will be part of the ICC World Test Championship and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, respectively.

New Zealand’s second outing will feature the Black Caps in two additional ODIs and will now comprise five ODIs and five T20Is that will count towards the ICC Rankings.

The two boards will work together to finalise the dates for the upcoming tours, stated the PCB.

PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his pleasure at the development. “This reflects the strong, cordial and historic relations the two boards have and reconfirms Pakistan’s status as an important member of the cricket fraternity,” he said.

NZC Chief Executive David White said the bond between the two boards was strengthened courtesy of some “very fruitful and constructive discussions” in Dubai between the chairmen of the two boards.

“It’s good to be going back,” he said.

It will be a busy time for Pakistan, at home, from March 2022 to April 2023 as the Men in Green will host eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 T20Is against Australia, England and New Zealand.