BY Muhammad Mustafa Mughal
DERA ISMAIL KHAN : Government employees across various departments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa staged a protest outside the Dera Ismail Khan Press Club on Thursday under the banner of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), demanding salary increments equal to those announced by the federal government. A sit-in was also held as part of the protest.
The demonstration was led by AGEGA Chairman Gul Nawaz Khan, who is also the Vice Principal of Islamia School No. 2. In his speech, Gul Nawaz Khan expressed disappointment and said, “It is truly embarrassing that the Chief Minister hails from our district, yet government employees here are deprived of the benefits granted to federal employees. If our demands are ignored, we will march to the provincial assembly on June 25.”
Muhammad Yaqoob Babar, President of ATA, said, “While the federal government announced a 10% ad hoc relief and a 30% disparity allowance, the provincial government only offered verbal assurances. In reality, the DRA has been reduced to a mere 15%, which is grossly insufficient.”
Professor Ihsanullah Gandapur, President of KEPLA, criticized the provincial government’s approach toward its own workforce. “Teachers, clerks, and officers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being treated unfairly. We are left with no option but to take to the streets to demand our rights.”
Amjad Jahangir Mehsud emphasized that “Providing basic financial benefits to employees is a state’s responsibility. Failure to do so will not only escalate protests but will also negatively impact the performance of government departments.”
Other notable participants included representatives from APCA, APTA, ECTA, AKSA, KEPLA, RTA, SST Association, Wahdat-e-Asatza, School Officers Association, and pensioners’ associations. The protestors demanded full restoration of pension benefits and an increase in pension payments.
Speakers unanimously called on the KP government to immediately implement salary and allowance increases in accordance with the federal structure. They warned that if their demands are not met, a large-scale sit-in will be held outside the provincial assembly on June 25.
