Govt workers ‘shortchanged’ on salaries, pension

The employees of various provincial departments including the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), the municipal corporation, educational department and others continued their strike for a second day on Tuesday over the increase in their salaries and pensions in the provincial budget, which they say isn’t the same as that given to federal government employees.

The protestors held sit-ins outside their offices, with services suspended to the frustration of citizens, including those who were incurring losses due to the inactivity at these departments.

With the teachers participating in the strike, educational activities have been affected.

Similarly, the suspension of work at various departments means those seeking resolution to their civic facilities were facing challenges. Issues pertaining to the non-availability of drinking water, poor sanitation, functional street lights went unaddressed.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government was yet to address the issues raised by the protesters. This has resulted in the protest intensifying.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2023.