PESHAWAR: Government employees across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday observed province-wide protests, demanding 100 per cent increase in salaries, restoration of pension benefits, and an end to the privatization of public institutions.
The protests were staged on the call of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) and the All Government Employees Coordination Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The strike affected government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions throughout the province, while employees also staged protests outside district press clubs. The largest demonstration was held outside the Peshawar Press Club, where hundreds of employees gathered, carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands.
AGEGA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Professor Abdul Hameed Afridi, General Secretary Syed Waqar Ali Shah, Coordination Council provincial president Siraj Burki, and General Secretary Sarir Khan led the protest.
Several senior leaders and representatives from various employee unions also participated in the rally.Addressing the protesters, union leaders criticized the provincial government for what they described as growing disparities in salaries and benefits among employees.
Speakers warned that “two different laws cannot operate within one state” and said deprived government workers would continue taking to the streets if their demands were ignored.The leaders urged the government to hold negotiations with employee representatives before May 20, warning that another province-wide lockout strike would be announced if their demands were not accepted.
During the protest, AGEGA and the Coordination Council presented a detailed charter of demands to the provincial government.
Key demands included restoration of the old pension system, a 100 percent increase in salaries, reinstatement of pension allowances from 2011 and 2015, cancellation of privatization and outsourcing plans for public institutions, and regularization of contract and ad hoc employees.
The charter also called for the upgradation of teachers, increased allowances, restoration of quota systems for the children of retired employees, improved service structures for healthcare and local government staff, and an increase in the minimum wage from Rs40,000 to Rs70,000.The employee organizations announced full support for the ongoing protests and demands of paramedics across the province.
Before the demonstration concluded, participants offered prayers for the late Malik Muhammad Naveed Awan, provincial president of the Local Government Federation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who passed away recently.
