ISLAMABAD: The protesting lady health workers (LHWs) continued their sit-in at Jinnah Avenue near D-Chowk on Friday.

The protesting women said they would not call off their sit-in until their demands were met.

National Programme Health Employees Federation President Rukhsana Anwar told Dawn that the protest would continue until the government resolved their issues.

She said the protesting women were facing several issues such as lack of toilet facilities and shortage of food items and drinking water.

However, the protesters have decided not to call off their protest.

Amid sloganeering against the PTI government, Ms Anwar said so far the government has not contacted the protesters.

“Today, the local administration informed us that two ministers will hold talks with us but no one came here to even listen to our problems what to talk of solving them,” she said.

Representative of protesters says so far govt has not contacted them for talks

She said PPP leader Shazia Marri visited the protest venue to express solidarity with the women.

The PPP lawmaker also provided food to the protesting women, she added.

The said the lady health workers were among thousands of government employees, who had staged a sit-in at the same venue on Wednesday demanding revision in their pay structure and scales.

However, the other protesters left the venue gradually but the the lady health workers are continuing their sit-in to press the government to resolve their issues.

The protesters have 10 demands, which include restoration of the National Programme of Family Planning in its original condition, equal bonus and pay for employees in all the provinces.

The protesting women said it was unjust that the salary for lady health workers in Sindh was Rs35,000 and in Punjab it was Rs20,000. They demanded the creation of a service structure and service rules for all the employees.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2020