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Government Employees Under Severe Financial Pressure, Zafar Khan Yousafzai
Demand for 200% Increase in Salaries in Upcoming Budget to Ensure Dignified Living
Staff Reporter
Peshawar:
An important meeting of the All Pakistan Secretariat Coordination Council was held yesterday in Islamabad, chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman Zafar Khan Yousafzai. Leadership representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federal Secretariat, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Azad Kashmir participated in the meeting.
During the session, participants unanimously approved presenting a set of demands to the government regarding the upcoming federal budget. The attendees expressed serious concern over the financial hardships faced by government employees.
Addressing the meeting, Chairman Zafar Khan Yousafzai stated:
“Today, government employees are under severe financial pressure. The unprecedented rise in inflation has broken the backs of employees. In this situation, we demand that the government increase the salaries of all employees by 200 percent in the upcoming budget so they can live with dignity.”
He added that medical expenses have increased severalfold, and medicines and treatment have become unaffordable for ordinary employees. Therefore, a 200 percent increase in medical allowance has become unavoidable. He further demanded that the conveyance allowance be doubled to ease the burden of rising travel expenses.
The Chairman made it clear that any kind of reforms in pensions would not be accepted under any circumstances and that the rights of pensioners must be fully protected. He also demanded the immediate restoration of the son quota and disease quota to ensure protection for employees’ families.
He further called for the merger of ad hoc relief into the basic salary, an increase in house rent allowance in proportion to inflation, regularization of contract and daily-wage employees, and immediate implementation of time-scale promotions and upgradations.
The meeting also demanded the abolition of the deputation policy in secretariats across Pakistan. Participants maintained that only original employees of the respective departments should be appointed, as the current deputation policy is causing wastage of resources and violations of merit. They called for ensuring transparency and making all decisions strictly on merit.
Chairman Zafar Khan Yousafzai warned that if the legitimate demands are not accepted, a nationwide protest movement would be launched. He said that employees would adopt every constitutional and legal avenue to secure their rights.
At the conclusion of the meeting, all participants unanimously expressed full support for the demands and resolved to continue their struggle.
National
Helvetas, MDF and PPAF Celebrate Completion of PCM Training Program
TP Report
ISLAMABAD: The concluding day of the international training course on Project Cycle Management (PCM) was held recently, organized jointly by MDF and Helvetas Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. The course, which brought together participants from across Pakistan and beyond, was hailed as highly successful and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The training program focused on strengthening the capacities of development professionals in designing, implementing, and monitoring projects using internationally recognized Project Cycle Management methodologies. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, group exercises, and case studies aimed at enhancing practical skills in project planning, execution, and evaluation.
Feedback from participants highlighted the relevance of the course content, the quality of the trainers, and the applicability of the knowledge gained to real-world development initiatives. Many noted that the training provided them with actionable tools and techniques to improve efficiency, accountability, and impact in their respective organizations.
Helvetas Pakistan and MDF emphasized that courses like these are vital for empowering individuals, enhancing organizational capacities, and creating a tangible impact in development and poverty alleviation programs. The collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund underlined the shared commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of contributing effectively to sustainable development goals in Pakistan.
The successful conclusion of this international PCM course marks another milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen project management practices, promote learning, and foster knowledge exchange among development professionals in Pakistan.
