Protesting dengue workers sacked

The Rawalpindi District Health Authority has terminated the services of five female workers for protesting their deployment to remote areas without transportation for 14-day dengue prevention duties.

According to sources, daily-wage female sanitary patrol workers, part of Rawalpindi's anti-dengue campaign, were assigned to union councils far from their homes without any transport assistance.

In protest, the women gathered outside the office of District Health Authority CEO Dr Ehsan Ghani located in Khayaban-e-Sir Syed.

Upon being informed of the protest, Dr Ghani arrived at the scene with his staff and issued an ultimatum to the protesting workers.

Despite appeals from the female workers to reconsider the decision, five of them were immediately dismissed.

In an emotional exchange, the dismissed workers reminded the CEO of his previous statements referring to them as "sisters and daughters." Dr Ghani reportedly replied, "You must report for duty for fourteen days, after which you can return to your respective union councils."

A video of the incident has surfaced, showing Dr Ghani issuing the warning in a stern tone. He also instructed one of his officers to note down the names of the protesting women.

Shortly after the protest, official termination notices were issued for five sanitary patrol workers, including Nazil Chan Zeb, Zara Nazir, Rabia Tanveer, Anam Imran, and Sana Bibi. These women were reportedly leading the protest.

Speaking to the media, the dismissed workers alleged that they were being unfairly transferred to distant union councils without transport. "Sometimes they say it's just for 14 days; sometimes it sounds like a permanent transfer," one protester said. "We are being wronged." The workers appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take notice of the "injustice" they have faced.