Sanitary workers demand additional salary
At least 11,687 workers of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) who collected 20,000 tons of garbage from 22 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division during the three days of Eidul Azha have demanded a full additional salary instead of accepting Rs 10,000 each as honoraria for their services like the last three years.
The RWMC Labour Union (CBA) has demanded an additional salary instead of Rs10,000 as a reward for the company's employees in Rawalpindi in a letter addressed to Punjab Chief Minister. CBA Union President Raja Haroon Rasheed says that the workers have established an exemplary cleaning system for three days in the scorching heat, giving Rawalpindi an edge in this regard.
The President of the CBA Union has said in a letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab that you have announced a reward of Rs10,000 to motivate the employees of the Waste Management Company.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Energy-starved Pakistan's solar rush
Solar panels are now seen installed on the rooftops of houses across the country. Photo: AFP Pakistanis are increasingly ditching the national grid in favour of solar power, prompting a boom in rooftop panels and spooking a government weighed down by billions of dollars of power sector debt. The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighbourhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts. Down a cramped alley in Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem's modest home for something they never experienced before — uninterrupted power. "Solar makes life easier, but it's a hard choice for people like us," she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewellery — a prized possession for women in Pakistan — and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and battery to store energy, for Rs180,000. As temperatures pass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), children duck under Saleem's door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Mounted on poles above homes, solar panels have become a common sight across the country of 240 million people, with the installation cost typically recovered within two to five years. Making up less than two percent of the energy mix in 2020, solar power reached 10.3 percent in 2024, according to the global energy think tank Ember. But in a remarkable acceleration, it more than doubled to 2 4 percent in the first five months of 2025, becoming the largest source of energy production for the first time. It has edged past gas, coal and nuclear electricity sources, as well as hydropower which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the past decades. As a result, Pakistan has unexpectedly surged towards its target of renewable energy, making up 60 percent of its energy mix by 2030. Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, told AFP that Pakistan was "a leader in rooftop solar". Soaring fuel costs globally, coupled with demands from the International Monetary Fund to slash government subsidies, led successive administrations to repeatedly hike electricity costs. Prices have fluctuated since 2022 but peaked at a 155-percent increase and power bills sometimes outweigh the cost of rent. "The great solar rush is not the result of any government's policy push," Muhammad Basit Ghauri, an energy transition expert at Renewables First, told AFP. "Residents have taken the decision out of clear frustration over our classical power system, which is essentially based on a lot of inefficiencies." Pakistan sources most of its solar equipment from neighbouring China, where prices have dropped sharply, largely driven by overproduction and tech advancements. But the fall in national grid consumers has crept up on an unprepared government burdened by $8 billion of power sector debt, analysts say. Pakistan depends heavily on costly gas imports, which it sells at a loss to national energy providers. It is also tied into lengthy contracts with independent power producers, including some owned by China, for which it pays a fixed amount regardless of actual demand. A government report in March said the solar power increase has created a "disproportionate financial burden onto grid consumers, contributing to higher electricity tariffs and undermining the sustainability of the energy sector". Electricity sales dropped 2.8 percent year-on-year in June, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Last month, the government imposed a new 10-percent tax on all imported solar, while the energy ministry has proposed slashing the rate at which it buys excess solar energy from consumers. "The household solar boom was a response to a crisis, not the cause of it," said analyst Jones, warning of "substantial problems for the grid" including a surge during evenings when solar users who cannot store energy return to traditional power. The national grid is losing paying customers like businessman Arsalan Arif. A third of his income was spent on electricity bills at his Karachi home until he bought a 10-kilowatt solar panel for around 1.4 million rupees (around $4,900). "Before, I didn't follow a timetable. I was always disrupted by the power outages," he told AFP. Now he has "freedom and certainty" to continue his catering business. In the eastern city of Sialkot, safety wear manufacturer Hammad Noor switched to solar power in 2023, calling it his "best business decision", breaking even in 18 months and now saving 1 million rupees every month. The cost of converting Noor's second factory has now risen by nearly 1.5 million rupees under the new government tax.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Govt to highlight digital policy
Shaza also revealed that Chinese satellite internet firms, including Galaxy Space and Shanghai Space, have expressed interest in entering the Pakistani market. PHOTO: APP Listen to article Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has reached Shanghai to represent Pakistan at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), a major global forum focused on the future of AI and digital innovation. Khawaja is leading Pakistan's official delegation at the conference, where she is expected to articulate the country's digital policy priorities and share its growing interest in emerging technologies. Her participation reflects Pakistan's broader ambition to position itself as an active player in the global AI arena. According to an official statement released on Friday, the ITT minister will present Pakistan's digital transformation roadmap, which aims to integrate advanced technologies like AI into key sectors to improve economic performance and public services. Her presence at WAIC is expected to raise Pakistan's profile on the international tech stage and promote opportunities for cross-border collaboration. The conference brings together government officials, industry leaders, and tech experts from around the world to discuss AI-driven development. Prior to her departure, the minister held a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the IT Ministry. The two officials reviewed ongoing collaboration in the digital sector and reaffirmed their countries' commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies. Key areas discussed included smart city projects, AI initiatives, and broader technical integration. Khawaja outlined Pakistan's vision for a digitally empowered society, driven by innovation, while Ambassador Jiang assured China's continued support for Pakistan's digital growth through experience-sharing and targeted cooperation. The meeting also explored future joint ventures and knowledge-sharing opportunities in the digital economy, especially in capacity-building, to support inclusive development and strengthen digital infrastructure. Both sides stressed the importance of using digital technology as a tool for equitable growth, and pledged to deepen collaboration. WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
ECC okays Rs72b housing subsidy
Listen to article The government on Friday approved a Rs72 billion subsidy scheme to help low and middle-income groups build small homes and apartments. Beneficiaries can avail housing loans of up to Rs3.5 million at fixed interest rates ranging from 5% to 8%. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved the markup subsidy and risk-sharing scheme. First-time homeowners will receive loans at rates cheaper than those offered in the market. The government will bear Rs62 billion in interest costs and Rs10 billion to share the default risk with banks. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the ECC meeting, which also cleared a series of agenda items concerning industrial growth, environmental policy, skill development, housing finance, and telecommunication. To ensure the scheme's success and reduce banks' reluctance, the government will enact two key laws. The foreclosure law will soon be tabled in the cabinet, granting banks the right to seize mortgaged properties and the Condominium law will address ownership issues in apartments. The Housing and Works Ministry presented the scheme based on recommendations from the task force on housing development. Under the plan, banks will carry 90% of the risk, while the federal government will assume the remaining 10%. Officials estimate that around 50,000 people will benefit during the current fiscal year, requiring Rs100 billion in loans. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had earlier launched a similar scheme. It benefited 184,000 homeowners, with 62,000 units already completed. The rest are under construction. Under PTI's Naya Pakistan Housing Programme, around two million people applied for home loans, but banks only extended Rs236 billion in credit. Housing remains out of reach for most Pakistanis due to double-digit interest rates, even though inflation is around 4.5%. The Economic Policy and Business Development think tank has demanded slashing rates to 6% and ending guaranteed bank profits. To qualify, applicants must be first-time homeowners with valid identity cards and no property ownership. They can avail loans for up to 20 years. The scheme offers fixed rates of 5% for loans up to Rs2 million and 8% for loans between Rs2 million and Rs3.5 million for the first 10 years. After a decade, market rates will apply, which could reach as high as 15% based on current interest trends. The scheme supports the purchase or construction of homes up to 5 marlas or apartments up to 1,360 sq ft. Borrowers must contribute 10% of the cost upfront; the remaining 90% will be financed by banks. Commercial banks, Islamic banks, microfinance banks (MFBs), and the Housing Building Finance Corporation can participate. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has endorsed the scheme's design for ensuring outreach and adherence to criteria. A full implementation mechanism for the markup subsidy and risk-sharing has also been prepared. The Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation will manage the programme. The government has decided to dissolve the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority to avoid duplication. Other decisions The ECC endorsed a report from the Ministry of Commerce on industrial competitiveness and the export-led growth of the steel sector, aligned with the National Tariff Policy 202530. The goal is to lower production costs and improve export competitiveness. The Committee approved a summary from the commerce ministry to file a Supreme Court appeal against a Lahore High Court decision granting gas/RLNG tariff concessions to M/s Ghani Glass Ltd. The ECC found the appeal tenable, given that concessionary tariffs for five export sectors have already been withdrawn. The ECC also approved Pakistan's Green Taxonomy, a proposal by the Ministry of Climate Change and Economic Coordination. The finance minister welcomed the initiative, calling it overdue and vital for enabling green project financing. To support skills development, the ECC approved a Rs1 billion government guarantee for issuing the Pakistan Skill Impact Bond (PSIB). This was moved by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The committee encouraged the ministry to gradually adopt the public-private partnership model and finance future projects using its own balance sheet, thereby reducing dependence on sovereign guarantees. The Ministry of Industries and Production briefed the ECC on vegetable ghee and oil pricing trends. Despite adequate national stocks, the Committee expressed concern over weak transmission of limited pass-through of declining international prices to domestic consumers. It urged close monitoring to avoid price distortions or cartelisation. The ECC emphasised stronger coordination with the Competition Commission of Pakistan, National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), and provincial authorities through the Ministry of Industires and Production. The ECC approved a proposal by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to revise charges for Radio-Based Services (RBS). It directed periodic revisions every 3-5 years to reflect economic and technological shifts. The Committee also endorsed a revised composition of the advisory panel overseeing the release of IMT spectrum, crucial for expanding mobile broadband in Pakistan. Finally, the ECC formally declared ship breaking and recycling as an industry, based on recommendations by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. However, the ministry was asked to work with the Power Division to provide data on energy usage in the sector to enable accurate assessment of the implications of applying industrial power tariffs in place of the existing commercial rates.
