PSI Global Programme Head José Simões visited Rawalpindi to meet the leadership of the Rawalpindi union and announced that the organisation will be registered with PSI’s global platform, paving the way for international training, technical assistance and expanded support for municipal workers.
Mr Simões was welcomed at the Municipal Corporation Office at the special invitation of Union President Raja Haroon and General Secretary Pastor Shahid Raza. Senior union members present included Arshad Khan, Malik Ghazanfarullah, Sufi Fayaz, Tariq Yousaf, Changez Bhatti, Nisar Kayani, Abdul Waheed, Zaka Haider Shah, Raja Danish Abbasi, Shahid Khan, Malik Ashfaq, Javed Ahmed, Raja Abdul Majeed, Chaudhry Fakhar, Raja Naveed Khan, Malik Usman, Shan Cheeda and Zeeshan Akbar.
Explaining the significance of the move, José Simões noted that PSI represents public service workers in 154 countries and reiterated that the federation stands shoulder to shoulder with local unions. The registration will give the Rawalpindi union access to international training programmes, resources and technical support, measures that are expected to strengthen protection of workers’ rights and improve the professional skills of municipal employees across the city.
At the close of the meeting, Union President Raja Haroon thanked José Simões on behalf of all officials and described PSI’s commitment as a historic milestone for workers in Rawalpindi. The development positions the Rawalpindi union to engage more closely with global labour networks and benefit from targeted capacity building at the local level.
