Staff Correspondent

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has assured that the reasonable overtime demands of railway employees have been met, with other claims now under the purview of the relevant ministry.

“We have addressed the logical demands of railway employees a while ago. Despite this, if they are still aggrieved, it is their matter to address,” he said on Tuesday in response to a question from reporters regarding budgetary allocations for railways.

The adviser said if any logical requests reach the Ministry of Finance, they will not be denied.

After a meeting of the Advisors' Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) , Dr Ahmed emphasised the importance of resolving issues affecting employment on humanitarian grounds.

“Employees often present multiple demands. Among them were requests for overtime allowances. We have fulfilled what was feasible, granting reasonable benefits. Other claims will now be reviewed by the concerned ministry. Should any justifiable issues come to us, the Ministry of Finance will act accordingly, particularly if they involve humanitarian or employment-related concerns,” he said.

When asked about past allocations and any new demands made, Dr Ahmed said, “Several organisations have similar demands. For railways, we resolved the overtime issue. However, if there are calls for additional benefits like pension gratuity, similar demands exist for other sectors as well.” Regarding the ongoing disruptions caused by railway employees’ demands, the Economic Adviser referred the matter to the Railway Adviser, noting that the specific actions to address such strikes would be determined by the railway authorities.

Procurement

During the meeting, the committee also approved the procurement of key commodities, including rice, sugar, lentils and fertilisers, to ensure an uninterrupted supply during Ramadan.

“We are taking measures to ensure a stable supply chain before, during, and after Ramadan,” Dr Ahmed said. He further highlighted the importance of effective market monitoring to ensure the timely availability of goods, stating, “It’s not enough to just import; we must ensure the supplies reach the market promptly,” he said.