Retired KMC employees take to streets

MQM-P demands immediate release of pensions, other long-pending benefits

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday staged a large protest outside the historic Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) headquarters on MA Jinnah Road, demanding the immediate release of long-pending pensions, gratuity, provident fund payments and other retirement benefits for more than 10,000 retired and serving employees of KMC, town administrations, the Water Corporation and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA).

The demonstration, organised by the party's Central Labour Division, drew retired employees, doctors, nurses, paramedics, labour representatives, legal experts and party workers, who voiced strong criticism of the Sindh government and municipal authorities over what they described as years of delayed payments.

Addressing protesters and the media, senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said thousands of retired employees had been waiting since 2017 to receive their lawful financial dues despite court orders and assurances reportedly given by the city mayor before the SHC.

He said many elderly workers who had spent decades serving civic institutions were now forced to spend their retirement years struggling to secure their own savings and benefits, calling the situation a grave injustice to public servants.

Criticising the provincial government, Dr Sattar urged Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to immediately release what he said were Rs25 billion in outstanding payments owed to retired employees, arguing that the amount was modest compared with the province's annual financial commitments.

He also demanded the immediate implementation of a 12 per cent salary increase approved in the 2025-26 KMC budget, along with pending pay raises for Water Corporation employees, describing both as legal entitlements rather than discretionary benefits.

The MQM-P leader further accused the PPP of manipulating local government constituencies in Karachi, making irregular appointments of non-local officers, and neglecting the son-and-daughter employment quota reserved for employees' families.