Seven days in the sweltering heat, and the employees of the Pakistan Works Department (PWD), unpaid for two months, have nothing to show for it.
They have set up a camp outside their headquarters to try and get the higher officials of PWD to release their salaries.
“We have not gotten our salaries since May and despite assurance from the concerned authorities, nothing much seems to be happening,” said Nazir Javed, a member of workers union.
He added they would wait till June 13, after which they will observe a complete boycott of offices, as they cannot continue working without money amid such high inflation.
“There will be a protest at a large level from June 14 if the government fails to fulfil our demands,” he said.
Almost 7,000 employees of the organisation, from grade 1 to 7, are working in different offices of WAPDA across the country.
They come under the direct supervision of the federal government. Of these employees, 3,500 are working in Islamabad, 1,500 in Lahore, over 600 in Peshawar, around 1,200 in Karachi and the rest in small stations across the country.
“The WAPDA officers are getting their salaries every month but the lower ranked workers are deprived of this right and their salaries are withheld for many months,” said Aziz Khan at the protest camp outside of WAPDA office in G-9/1.
Azher Ahmed, another employee, interjected, “We are permanent government employees and should not be dealt with in such discriminatory manner.” How are we to manage our expenses and fees of our children if our salaries are not released on time, he added.
Some parliamentarians on Friday visited the protest camp and assured the workers that they will take up their issue at the “highest level”.
Later, the lawmakers took the issue in the National Assembly and the Speaker directed the concerned minister to look into the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.
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