The ongoing protests in Sindh have rendered hundreds of people without service. Patients are turning back to their homes having been denied health services while students wait desperately for the resumption of their classes. The employees of more than 30 departments notably education, revenue and health have been carrying out protests under the aegis of Sindh Employees Alliance for more than a week against the pension reforms introduced by the Sindh government. The employees call for withdrawal of the reforms and release of Disparity Reduction Allowance granted by the federal government and followed by the other provincial governments in the country.
The protests have now been transformed into hunger strikes across the province and the protesters are all set to stage a sit-in in front of Bilawal House on 6 October 2025. Surprisingly, the state appears nonchalant so far. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier commented that it had been communicated to him that no such reforms have been introduced. This apathy towards the grievances of the employees is adding fuel to the fire. The employees work in the under-resourced facilities often contributing to the expenses from their own pockets. They look forward to pension and other benefits as they approach superannuation. The reforms are a blow to their collective financial security.
The government must pay heed to the demands of the employees and carve a way out of this. Anything other than the dialogue would be against the will of the people and could have serious repercussions. The peaceful protesters and the people of the province wait in agony; the government must end this ignorance before it gets too late.
Iqra Naseer
Hyderabad
