Govt employees want pension benefits revived

Governor assures AGEGA delegation their demands will be taken care of

PESHAWAR:

All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) delegation, led by provincial Chairman Naseeruddin, on Thursday requested KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to restore the benefits that were taken away in the name of pension reforms by the previous government. Stressing the role of government employees in the country's development and prosperity, KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali assured the delegation that steps would be taken in collaboration with the provincial government to resolve their issues.

He expressed these views during a meeting with a 20-member delegation of the alliance at Governor House. The governor said that the officials should fulfill their duties honestly and provide services to the public instead of blaming each other.

The delegation included AGEGA chief Ali Samiullah Khan Khalil, Vice Chairman Azizullah Khan, Provincial Secretary General Wazirzada, Deputy Secretary General Zareen Shah, prominent members Ali Khan, Fazal Dayan, Naseer Shah Afridi, Amjad Khan Turki, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Sher Khan, Hidayatul Haq, Naveed Gul, Ikram Bacha, Rafaqat Qamar, Muhammad Asif Khan Afridi, and others. The delegation demanded that lady health workers be given service structure like other provincial employees. The delegation's partners also requested for action on the issue of up gradation for approved teachers, while informing the governor about other issues faced by government employees and requesting his role in resolving them.

On this occasion, the governor said that he considers it his duty to resolve the issues of government employees on a priority basis so that they can fulfill their responsibilities without any hesitation and mental pressure. He said that the country was currently going through a severe economic crisis, and a significant amount from the provincial treasury was spent on the salaries of employees. Therefore, he added, employees should not only fulfill their responsibilities to pull the country out of the current difficult situation but also provide services to the public with honesty and dedication.

The governor said “government employees are our brothers” and there were issues of pay raise, upgradation, and allowances that needed to be addressed. However, he said, the country is facing difficulties at the moment, and everyone has to fulfill their duty to get out of these difficult situations. “It is necessary to have the intention to continue performing our duties with utmost competence and honesty,” he said. The 21st century offered solutions to problems through dialogue, and strikes and the office closures were a waste of time, he said, adding: “All these issues will be resolved in a civilized manner.” Later, Excise Minister Haji Manzoor Afridi, Irrigation Minister Fazal Elahi, and Awami National Party leader Sardar Hussain Babak also held separate meetings with the governor.