Zubair Qureshi
Hundreds and thousands of the government employees, the federal government and the provincial both, belonging to various ministries, divisions and departments on Thursday gathered at the D-Chowk under the banner of All Government Employees Grand Alliance. They were to stage a protest rally in support of their demands including disparity allowance, time-scale and other benefits.
However, their Protest Day turned into “Day of Gratitude” as the federal government the previous night agreed to almost all their demands.
Head of the Pak Secretariat Employees Core Committee and Chief Coordinator of the AGEGA Rehman Ali Bajwa termed the government’s acceptance of their demands a victory of their principled stand. If we continue to show unity, we shall succeed despite all odds, he said while addressing the workers.
They were holding flags, banners and placards and were raising slogans in favour of their demands including payment of disparity allowance at all levels. They thanked Rehman Bajwa for taking demands to the government and playing a key role in their acceptance.
President of Federal Government College Teachers Association Dr Rahima Rahman also addressed the rally. While expressing her gratitude to Bajwa and his colleagues, she said increase in pay announced by the government was still insufficient as the prices of essential commodities and basic food items such as flour, ghee, vegetables and pulses have been increased to such an extent that people could not afford two times meals.
She demanded more increase in pay. She further demanded that 15 pc increase in pay should also be extended to all government servants of grade 20 and above.
A large number of teachers under wedlock policy working at various Islamabad schools were also part of the protest. They called upon the government to fulfill promise to induct them in their present schools.
