KSF personnel threaten to go on strike over non-payment of salary

Gilgit, July 31 (ANI): Hundreds of Karakoram Security Force (KSF) personnel have threatened to go on strike in protest against non-payment of salary for the last two months.

According to an agreement inked between the Northern Areas police and the National Highway Authority (NHA), the Karakoram Security Force was given responsibility to safe guard the Chinese workers engaged in widening the Karakoram Highway.

Under the agreement, about 214 security personnel were recruited in the first phase and 180 in the second phase for the purpose, but officials said that the higher authorities have not released salaries of any of the security personnel.

Officials said that since the NHA has not released 'a single penny' since June 2009, salaries could not be paid, The Dawn reports.

A senior official said that 1.8 million rupees were borrowed from a local bank to pay the salary of the month of June, but the concerned department has released the July's payment.

The reason for the delay has not been clarified by the NHA. (ANI)