Public sector employees may get major pay-raise

ISLAMABAD Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar Thursday told the Upper House that the government was considering bringing salaries of public servants at par with the employees of private sector to improve public services.
Responding to a question during the Question Hour regarding the huge difference in wages of public and private sectors employees, the Minister said that the private sector provided efficient services due to higher salaries of their employees. Therefore, she said, the government was also considering sufficient increase in salaries of government servants.
She also informed the House that every major sector of the country would be brought in the tax net to boost revenue collections. She further said that the government was taking a number of steps to stabilise the value of rupee against foreign currencies.
Leader of the House in Senate Nayyar Hussain Bukhari tabled the National Disaster Management Ordinance 2009, the Police Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2009, the Competition Ordinance 2009, and the Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 in the House.
On a point of order, Prof Khursheed Ahmed regretted delay in the appointment of judges in superior judiciary and claimed that the government wanted to sabotage the movement for restoration of independent judiciary through such tactics. He warned of moving the Supreme Court against the government in case of further delay in the appointment of judges. Senator Pervez Rasheed, too, urged for immediate appointment against vacant position in superior judiciary to expedite provision of justice.
The House also continued debate on the law and order situation in the country. While taking part in the debate, Senator Raja Zafrul Haq said that the federal and provincial governments had no understanding of the issue while the security agencies lacked professionalism. He said that the society had been collapsed and suggested that the Prime Minister should review the situation in consultation with provinces. He said that Rehman Malik looked much active but actually did nothing.
Senator Abdur Raheem Mandokhel said that extremists and terrorists had made the country hostage due to inaction of the government. He said certain forces considered extremist elements as their assets.
Senator Tahir Mashhadi said that the widening gap between the poor and the rich was also a major cause behind the unrest in the country. Senator Gul Naseeb said that the difference between our words and actions was the root cause of lawlessness in the country. He said that no society could flourish without justice and justice was impossible without the imposition of Shariah rule. He said that the name of religion should not be used for killing and destruction.
Senator Haji Adeel said that the law and order situation in the country had improved after the inception of democratic dispensation. He called for purging Karachi from weapons. He also said that due share should be given to each ethnic group in Karachi Police. He said ANP would not be bound to any decision in which they would not be taken on board.
Senator Hafiz Rasheed said that discrimination resulted in inferiority complex and ultimately in violence.
The House also referred a privilege motion of Senator Haji Ghulam Ali against the Peshawar Police to the respective committee.