ISLAMABAD - The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Wednesday approved majority of facilities and allowances demanded by the civic body's Mazdoor Union a day ahead of the massive protest demonstration announced by the Union in front of Chairman's Office. The approval was made in the Authority's board meeting, especially convened to take up a set of demands agreed upon in Joint Works Council (JWC), comprising the representatives of both the Union and the CDA Administration, in April this year. The Board, pressed by the Union's call for the massive protest, in which leaders of a number of international labour unions have also reached Pakistan to participate, approved majority of the demands while deferring the rest for further deliberations. Among the allowances approved for the employees of the Authority are the computer allowance, overtime allowance and the danger allowance for electricians, workers of rescue and fire services, tube wells and zoo. The Board also approved the Union's demand of construction of separate schools and colleges for the children of CDA employees. However, the Authority would sign agreements with private schools and colleges of the federal capital to reserve 20% seats for the children until the separate schools and colleges could be constructed for them. It was also approved that 25 Muslim employees of the civic agency would be sent to perform Haj while 5 Christians would be sent to Vatican City each year on the expenses of the Authority. The Board approved five percent quota for the employees in each new sector to be opened. In addition, 4000 residential houses and a bachelor hostel would also be constructed for the employees. The most pressing demand sought by the Mazdoor Union was amendment in the CDA Service Regulations 1992, which, as opined by the Union's General Secretary Chaudhry Yaseen, had gloomed the lives of more than 8000 employees of the Authority. However, the Board directed the concerned department to thoroughly study the service structures in other government organizations like KRL, NESCOM, OGDCL and PTV etc within 21 days. The board would take up the issue for approval after the submission of the study report by the said department, it has been learnt. The Special Board Meeting also approved construction of mosque, cafeteria and labour hall within the premises of CDA Complex to be constructed in G-8, while the extension of graveyard for the Christian employees of the Authority was also approved. General Secretary of CDA Mazdoor Union Chaudhry Yaseen had earlier commented to change the tone of today's demonstration from protest to thanks giving if the CDA Administration meets their demands. However, he was not available for his fresh comments over the development.