::: Press Release:::

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce would not only head the Social Security Hospitals Management Committee but would also be put on Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) Board. This was stated by the Commissioner, Punjab Employees Social Security Institution, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, while speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian, Senior Vice President Mian Muzaffar Ali, former LCCI President Sheikh Mohammad Asif, LCCI Standing Committee Chairman Tahir Javed Malik, Shahzad Azam Khan and LCCI Executive Committee Member Mian Abuzar Shad also spoke on the occasion. The PESSI Commissioner said that the decision to give the chairmanship of the Social Security Hospitals Management Committee to the LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian was taken in the larger interests of the industrial workers and to strengthen the relations between PESSI and the LCCI. Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry also announced to constitute a Dispute Resolving Committee on the lines of LESCO, Customs and Sales Tax Resolving Committees already working in Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that any industrialist who would have any complaint against PESSI would be asked to go to PESSI Dispute Resolution Committee at LCCI and the PESSI would follow the committee decision. The Commissioner said that he was quite alive to the problems of the business doing people and was putting in his best efforts for their solution. He also promised to the LCCI President that in future no PESSI official would visit any industry so that the business community could do business with peace of mind. He also said that the contribution from the employers should not be more that Rs 360 per employee. Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian said that during 10 months of the financial year 2005-6, Lahore contributed approximately Rs 470 million compared to Rs 220 million by Faisalabad, Rs 77 million by Multan, Rs 71 million by Rawalpindi, Rs 46 million by Gujranwala but the industrial workers are not getting commensurate financial benefits. He said that the main objective of PESSI is to provide comprehensive social welfare cover to the secured workers and their family members including their parents and to give financial assistance in case of sickness and employment injuries. He said, it has also established hospitals and dispensaries in concentrated industrial areas, where qualified Doctors, Specialists and Para medical staff are said to provide medical facilities. The fact is that no such facilities are being practically provided to the employees. The staff in the dispensaries is often absent. Proper medication is not available. Employees are not been given proper security cards. More than hundred ambulances are claimed to facilitate the patients but on the hour of need, it is always found difficult to find even one. The LCCI President said that the social security officers have become a permanent sign of fear to the business community. The field staff is not properly trained to inspect the industrial establishments. According to IRO2002, inspectors are not allowed to enter a factory without seeking permission from the owner. But here things are going opposite. The Chairman LCCI Standing Committee while speaking on the occasion thanked the PSSI Commissioner for stooping the PESSI Officials from visiting any factory and said that if the inspection is very necessary it must be made in accordance with the prescribed rules. He also urged the PESSI chief to double the slab of 50 employees and it would increase fund generation without disturbing the factory owners. Mr Malik also appreciated the idea of making the Kot Lakhpat Industrial Area dispensary as a model dispensary and LCCI President assured that it would be achieved in two months.