SIALKOT, Nov 8: Growers are facing a severe financial crisis due to absence of rice export policy and non-fixation of support price of paddy. This was stated by Punjab Farmers Rights Protection Forum Chairman Mirza Ehsan Baig while talking to newsmen here on Monday.

He said the growers were unable to afford the rising production cost of paddy.

He said the abolition of 33 per cent power subsidy and rising petroleum and fertilizers' prices had also been intensifying the miseries of the poor growers.

He urged President General Pervez Musharaf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to take steps for early export of a large quantity of stocked rice yield.

TEACHERS UNION: The Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) has urged the government to end recruitments on ad hoc basis and regularize all those appointed on contract.

This was stated by PTU Provincial Information Secretary Abdul Rashid Nagra while talking to newsmen here on Monday.

He said recruitment on contract was an 'exploitation' of the educated youth. He demanded of the government to make fresh recruitment on regular basis, besides regularizing the ad hoc teachers.

He said the PTU meeting had unanimously adopted a resolution on the inordinate delay in setting up of the pay and pension committee by the government.

He urged the president and the prime minister to announce the formation of the committee as promised by the government on the eve of federal budget.

Abdul Rashid Nagra demanded concession in examination fee for teachers' children and abolition of the condition of getting NOC for local migration (from one school to other).

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