BAHAWALPUR - The Federal Budget 2013-14 is very disappointing for the government employees as despite increasing inflation rate, their salaries have not been raised, said the All Pakistan Clerks Association during a prost demonstration here.  The Apca rejected the new Budget 2013-14 and threatened to close down offices against the "anti-workers" budget. With the increase in general sales tax, a storm of inflation will hit the country.
Government workers under the leadership of Apca Punjab Secretary General Fakhrur Rehman Azhar took out a protested rally against the non-increase of their salaries in the fiscal budget and kept the road block for three hours.
The secretary-general, Bahawalpur Divisional President Rana Waheed Sultan, Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdullah, Action Committee Chairman Shaukat Ali and others said while addressing the protesters that 2.1 million Apca families made a mistake of trusting Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by voting for the PML-N. From now to onward all the government servants will keep protesting against not raising the salaries according to the increasing inflation rate, he said and added that after the recent budget, there would be a new storm of inflation which would cover the whole country and increase the suicide rate.
He said that current budget was made on the directions of the International Monetary Fund due to which lives of the people will become even more difficult. He added that a protest campaign will be launched against the current budget. On the other side, the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry also rejected the budget specially increase in taxes. In this regard a meeting was held in BCCI Bahawalpur. A chamber office-bearer said that unlimited Audit powers had been assigned to the commissioners as well as FBR also, showing his reservation over the act.
The fixing of Monitoring Tracking System on Production Unit is also a wrong act and by this act the government showed mistrust on the traders. Increase in GST will raise the prices of all the items including essential commodities. Filing of Wealth Tax Return was essential for those who had the income of Rs1 million in previous budget and now the government made this for all traders which is totally injustice with the traders community, he said.
"We have rejected tax on all moveable property, levy tax and increase in penalties.
DISASTER TRAINING OF PUBLIC STRESSED: District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar said that to encounter any natural disaster and emergency situation, all the departments should improve their performance. He expressed these thoughts while visiting the District Disaster Control room established in Civil Defense Department.
He said that students and general public should have awareness regarding first aid and civil defence so that in case of any accident and other disaster loss of property and life can be minimised.
District Officer Civil Defense Arshad Ali Chaudhry briefed DCO regarding Civil Defense Department. The DCO was told that about 1,000 people have been trained by the department. The DCO was also given briefing regarding the different departments established in Civil Defense office including Bomb Disposal, Relief Centre, Emergency Control Room and other.
The DCO also visited the Disaster Management cell established by Pakistan Red Crescent Society. The disaster management officer said that in case of any accidents and disaster Red Crescent responds immediately.