President Zardari distributes share certificates among workers

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that discontinuation of the visionary power policy introduced by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has landed the country into energy crisis.

He was addressing a special ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr to distribute share certificates among the employees of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO) under Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme.The President recalled that realizing future needs of the economy, the then Government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto initiated a visionary programme in 1990s to ensure energy security but the policy was abandoned by the subsequent governments.

He said as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto while addressing the National Assembly had warned the then government against discontinuation of the policy and even proposed to export of surplus electricity to neighbouring countries.

Referring to the Stock Option Scheme, President Zardari said this would not only empower the employees and make them owners of the organization but also ensure transparency in privatization as workers would have stakes in these entities.

He said with representatives of workers on the board of directors and ownership in shares, it would be difficult for anyone to dispose of national assets at throwaway prices during privatization.

President Zardari asked workers not to sell their shares as these have significance for them in future.

The President also urged workers that now that they are owners of the state-owned entities, they should keep a strict vigil against corrupt practices, misuse of authority and performance of these institutions.

He said as share holders they should keep the interests of organization uppermost in their mind as this would mean their own betterment and welfare.

President Zardari said by giving ownership of the state-owned institutions, the government has acknowledged the rights and importance of workers.

The President regretted that the policies of government aimed at the welfare of masses are not getting due space in media but added that he doesn’t believe in publicity but serving the people to ensure their rights.

He said the PPP has always worked for the poor and down-trodden classes of the society.

President Zardari recalled that it was Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who launched a comprehensive programme for manpower export that brought prosperity to families and different areas especially backward ones of the country.

He said the overseas Pakistanis are also backbone of the economy as they are remitting valuable foreign exchange back home and this year the amount has reached the mark of 13 billion dollars which is the highest ever in Pakistan’s economic history.

The President also recalled that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto visualized the threat of terrorism and extremism and warned during her last address at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi that extremists want to establish their own writ.

He said the present government took practical steps to ward off this threat and launched Swat operation and today flag of the country is hoisting in Swat and Malakand.

President Zardari said under the Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme” 12 percent stock share from 80 public sector organizations are being offered to more than 500,000 workers free of cost Employees Trust.

He said the scheme will ensure that the employees will nominate their representatives on the board of their respective entities.

The President said the workers have been benefitted with Rs. 7 billion as dividend from these shares.

He said the scheme was introduced in the name of Benazir Bhutto as he gave the vision to empower the workers and to ensure their welfare.

President Zardari said the government is committed to the welfare of the workers and wage earners.

He said the scheme was first launched on August 14, 2009 when 887 employees of the Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila were given share certificates and it was followed by distribution of certificates among employees of OGDCL and PPL.

The President said, “I am confident that with the award of share certificates to its employees the PPL and KAPCO workers will step up their efforts to step up oil and gas production in the country.

He said in the next nine weeks, the government will have similar share distribution ceremonies for nine more state enterprises.

The President especially referred to important legislation for the welfare of the workers through two important bills by the parliament aimed at protecting the working classes from exploitation and arbitrary termination from service.

He said the bad laws for the workers have been done away with by this government and the authorities will have no arbitrary power over the workers.

He said these ordinances were repealed to ensure job security and the employees would no longer be able to sack the employees arbitrary.

President Zardari said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also raised her voice against these black and draconian labour laws.

He said both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto believed that the PPP derived its strength from the working class of Pakistan and they always fought for their rights and well-being.

“We continue to be inspired and guided by the policy principles laid down in the manifesto by Shaheed leaders,” he said.

The President said the government had taken several measures to protect the rights of the workers.

Referring to other measures taken by the present government for the welfare of workers, the President said, in addition to the Stock Option Scheme, the other measures include restoration in service of the sacked employees, restoration of trade unions, replacement of IRO 2002 with pro-labour law, enhancing of minimum wages to Rs 7,000 per month and increase of marriage grants for workers.

He said, “These measures are a manifestation of conscious efforts by the present government to restore the labour and the working classes their dignity and their rights.”

The President called upon all the political forces to join hands in national interest in improving the lot of working classes and protecting them from exploitation.

He also called upon the working classes to continue to play a greater a role in the development and prosperity of the nation.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, Minister for Privatization Ghaus Buksh Mehr, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan,parlaimentarians and a large number of workers of PPL and KEPCO.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011