The Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Khan Ghauri on Monday inaugurated computer balloting of 250 acres Karachi Port Trust (KPT) employees housing scheme in Hawkes Bay area.
This housing scheme is the first in the history of KPT since it inception in 1887. In this scheme about 5000 residential plots of 120 yards would be given to KPT employees.
The Minister announced a package worth Rs 240 million covering charter of demands at a large gathering of KPT workers at the head office here. The agreement is for period from April 2006 to March 2008, and was signed between KPT and CBA Union after negotiations. The Minister said that package would give substantial financial benefits and increase in allowances to KPT workers.
IT WILL INCREASE THE BASIC SALARIES OF KPT WORKERS BY 19 PERCENT AND THE NEW GRADES (PAY SCALE OF GRADES 1 TO 8) HAVE BEEN REVISED AS UNDER:
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S. No Previous Pay Scale Revised Pay Scale
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1. BPS 1: 1870-61-3090 BPS 1: 2300-75-3800
2. BPS 2: 1925-82-3568 BPS 2: 2345-100-4345
3. BPS 3: 1977-103-4037 BPS 3: 2485-125-4985
4. BPS 4: 2130-115-4430 BPS 4: 2655-150-5655
5. BPS 5: 2256-140-5056 BPS 5: 2980-200-6980
6. BPS 6: 2645-195-6545 BPS 6: 3565-275-9065
7. BPS 7: 2802-241-7622 BPS 7: 3780-305-9880
8. BPS 8: 3608-335-10302 BPS 8: 4500-410-14750
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He said that the agreement would increase conveyance allowance by Rs 80, OPD/medical allowance by Rs 350, compensation allowance by Rs 100, harbour allowance by Rs 100, allowance for blind employees by Rs 200, Hafiz-e-Qura'an allowance by Rs 200, science teacher's allowance by Rs 90, dust allowance by Rs 50, special pay allowances of Pesh Imam and Mo'azzan by Rs 300, Manora allowance by Rs 25 and extra-nourishment allowance by Rs 30.
Technical allowances of KPT workers have also been raised, Babar said, adding that henceforth the female workers would also be included in Haj Quota balloting.
He said that on the death of a KPT worker, the widow would be paid Rs 25,000 immediately and Rs 3,000 as burial expenses. The agreement will facilitate the KPT workers when they seek house-building advance. They would now get the amount equivalent to 45 Basic Pay as against 40 Basic pays in the past. Motorcycle advance and cycle advance for KPT workers have also been increased to Rs 50,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Previously these advance were Rs 45,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.
The Charter of Demands agreement has provided incentives for workers seeking marriage advances and education scholarships for their children. Marriage advance has been increased by Rs 15,000 from existing amount of Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000.
Similarly, education allowance for the children of KPT workers has also been increased satisfactorily. In the incentives for the minorities to visit the sacred places, the agreement has increased the quota from 3 to 4.
Previously, minorities were given Rs 9,000 per worker to visit their holy places and now the same has been significantly increased to Rs 12,000 for this purpose.
Earlier on the Minister was received by KPT Chairman Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat, General Manager Administration Brigadier Shahid Saleem Lone and Office Bearers of United Workers Front (CBA Union, KPT) to include Chairman CBA, Muhammad Mohsin, President CBA, Zafar Raisani and General Secretary CBA, Javed Hashmi at Head Office Building.