QUETTA, April 15: Work at the Civil Secretariat and other government departments here remained paralysed on Monday as a result of a strike by the employees demanding 40 per cent special allowance.

The public servants from grade 1 to 15 observed complete strike suspending the routine work as they were excluded from the unattractive area allowance, which amounts to 40 per cent of the salary.

The striking employees at the Balochistan Secretariat locked the offices of the officers who had announced that they would not participate in the strike. They did not allow the officers, including the secretaries to attend their offices.

The chief secretary, with the consent of the Balochistan governor, had granted the allowance to certain categories of employees and the decision had upset the employees serving at the secretariat.

Early in the morning, the sanitary workers did clean most of the rooms and corridors before the strikers reached the secretariat. The activists urged the sanitary workers to join them.

Contingents of Balochistan reserve police and anti-riot police remained alert to meet any eventuality.