By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: Government employees, teachers and staff from various departments staged a protest in Landi Kotal on the call of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding resolution of their longstanding issues. The protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans in support of workers’ rights.
Speakers said government employees were facing severe financial difficulties amid rising inflation, adding that an immediate increase in salaries and allowances had become unavoidable. They demanded that the house rent allowance be revised according to 2026 rates instead of the 2008 structure, that the disparity allowance be increased in line with current inflation, and that ad hoc relief be merged into the basic pay scale with a complete revision of pay scales. They also called for tax exemption for government employees.
The speakers further demanded protection of pensions, an increase in medical and conveyance allowances, an end to the privatisation of government institutions, and urgent resolution of other long-standing issues. They made it clear that privatisation of national institutions would not be accepted under any circumstances, as it would negatively affect both employees and the public.
The protest was addressed by several leaders, including Sherifullah Afridi, president of Tanzeem Asataza District Khyber, Malik Nadar Shah, Khairullah of the ATA, district secretary Ajmal Khan of APCA, representatives of Malgari Ustazan, and other leaders. They warned that if the government did not accept their legitimate demands, the protest movement would be expanded further.
At the end of the demonstration, participants appealed to the government to prioritise the resolution of employees’ issues in order to reduce growing unrest among government staff.
