91 KPCTA employees paid despite expiry of contracts

PESHAWAR: Despite the expiry of contracts, around 91 contract employees receive illegal salaries along with perks and privileges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority. Their contracts expired in September 2023 but they are still working without any legal footings. The PTI provincial government had illegally extended its contracts last year in violation of the Tourism Act 2019.

When contacted Mutaher Zeb, Secretary, of the Culture, Tourism, Archaeology, and Museum Department said the employee’s contract cannot be extended.

“I have already given my opinion during a high-level meeting that under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Act 2019, the contract cannot be extended. Rules are always framed under the act and they cannot be above the act”, he said.

Secretary said the act is very clear, extension cannot be allowed without amendment in the act. It needs fresh hiring to resolve the issue and the old contract employees can also apply and be hired again through a fresh process. According to data available with this scribe, around 91 contract employees were hired by the PTI government in 2021 on attractive packages on a contract basis for one year but the PTI government illegally extended their contracts last year in 2022. The KP Culture and Tourism Act 2019 clause 32 says all employees shall be hired on a contract basis for a specific period terminable on one month’s notice by either side or payment of one month’s salary. It provided no extension shall be made in the service or contract employees however he shall be eligible for fresh hiring under a new contract: The same clause provided further that in fresh hiring preference shall be given to candidates who have served in the Authority with good performance reports. KPCTA sources confirmed that the contracts of BSP 14 and below expired on September 10 while the contracts of BPS 16 and above expired on September 29, 2023. But still, 91 employees are working in the office and getting the pay and perks. All employees got their salaries last month around Rs 6.3 million. The staff for the Investment wing was hired on very high salaries to bring investment but they brought zero investment. The GM Investment was hired on Rs 357,430/- while Manager Investment, 265,060/-, Manger Marketing Rs 265,060, Manger Digital Transformation 265,060, Program Specialist 144,000/- and Business Development Specialist was appointed on Rs144,000/-per month.