Peshawar:
On Wednesday, the provincial capital attended a complete traffic cessation while thousands of employees went down to the streets, organizing a massive demonstration and a sit-in in Assembly Chowk which blocked Khyber Road and other key arteries, including access to hospitals, for more than 10 hours.
The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Great Alliance of Government employees, began with a rally that went from the Lycée du Government No. 1 to the Chowk Assembly.
The demonstrators have raised slogans demanding a salary hike in accordance with federal scales, a minimum wage of 50,000 rupees for workers and the restoration of the previous pension mechanism.
Participants included members of all major departments, including teachers, clerks and health workers. The demonstrators rejected the recently introduced contributory retirement scheme (CPC), insisting on a return to the traditional retirement model.
In addition to wage parity and pension reform, the demonstrators demanded the realization of previous promises concerning the upgrading of teachers and called on health workers to be granted BPS-9 and BPS-15 on the basis of seniority.
The demonstrators said that they had already had interviews with the provincial finance councilor, but said that he had refused to accept their requests.
While the demonstration entered its final stages, government representatives extended an invitation to negotiations.
Interviews took place between union leaders and a government committee, during which the employees were assured that their requests would be examined and that their concerns are responded.
After several hours of protest, and in the light of government insurance, the sit-in was canceled peacefully.
