Protesters raised placards and pasted stickers on walls reading, “Protest, protest, let us live too. Restore our financial rights,” as frustration over unpaid dues boiled into public outrage
Press Release
KARACHI: Employees of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) continue a countrywide pen-down strike, now entering its third week, in protest against the suspension of their financial benefits and medical facilities. Offices across Pakistan, including the PSQCA headquarters in Karachi, remained paralyzed as staff demanded the immediate restoration of their rights.
Outside PSQCA offices, placards were raised and protest stickers pasted on walls, reading: “Protest, protest, let us live too. Restore our financial rights.” The protest has intensified after a tragic incident in Punjab where a PSQCA employee, Adeel Ahmed, died allegedly due to the unavailability of timely medical treatment following the abrupt suspension of medical benefits. A similar incident had earlier occurred in Karachi, where another employee, Mehmood Kohistani, passed away under comparable circumstances.
According to employees, their sealing allowance, bonuses, and house rent benefits have all been halted. They vowed to continue the pen-down strike until these benefits are fully reinstated. Protesters also raised serious allegations against senior officials, accusing them of systemic corruption and negligence that, they claim, has endangered lives and eroded the welfare system meant to protect them.
Much of the workers’ anger is directed towards Deputy Director General (Finance) Tofique Abbasi and Assistant Audit Officer Shehzad Siddiqui, both of whom are on deputation. Employees allege that since their arrival, corruption has worsened and medical panel payments have been deliberately delayed to extract kickbacks from partner hospitals. PSQCA staff have called for both men to be sent back to their original departments and for criminal investigations into their roles.
A particularly notorious figure, Khalid Bablani, who was dismissed by the Sindh High Court for fake appointments just last month, is also named in the employees’ complaint. Workers claim that despite the court ruling, Bablani remains active in the department and continues to operate with impunity. Also named is Director Ashraf Palari, head of the medical committee, accused of enforcing the verbal orders that cut off staff healthcare access.
The controversy deepens with disturbing allegations that Shehzad Siddiqui was named in an FIR just last month for harassing female colleagues and has since gone into hiding. “This is the second time in six months that an employee has died due to the denial of medical care. The first case in Karachi was never even investigated,” said one worker. “How many more lives must be lost before authorities act?”
Employees have now appealed directly to the Federal Minister for Science and Technology and the Federal Secretary to establish a high-level inquiry committee. They are demanding a thorough investigation into the deaths, mismanagement, and corruption they believe are rotting the institution from within. In all PSQCA offices nationwide, special prayers were held on Monday in memory of the late Adeel Ahmed.
