PESHAWAR: A large number of government employees from several government departments on Wednesday staged a protest sit-in against pension reforms outside the provincial assembly’s building for several hours.

The protesters, who initially gathered at the Government Higher Secondary School No 1, Peshawar city, later marched on the Grand Trunk Road to reach the roundabout in front of KP Assembly, where they staged a sit-in.

Khyber Road, the main thoroughfare, which connects GT Road with the University Road and Warsak Road. The road remained closed until the end of the protest at around 7pm, causing traffic mess in the area, troubling motorists and commuters.

The protest was arranged under the banner of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) KP and attended by government employees including teachers, communication and works, local government and class IV.

All Primary Teachers Association KP president and executive member of the AGEGA Azizullah Khan told Dawn that the association leaders met with the special secretary (finance) but the talks did not bear fruit.

Say won’t accept any reduction in pension, protest to continue until demands met

He said that the adviser to the chief minister and finance secretary did not attend the meeting.

“We have decided to gather outside the provincial assembly on Thursday morning to stage a sit-in again,” he said.

The association leader said that the government was working to abolish pension for government employees on the International Monetary Fund’s demand.

He said that in 2022, the KP government abolished two of the employees’ allowances, which other employees all over the country continued to draw.

Mr Khan said that move alone cost Rs15,000-20,000 to low-grade employees every month.

He also said that the government was planning to reduce the commuted pension to 30 per cent from the existing 35 and increase the monthly pension from 65 per cent to 70 per cent.

“Most government employees rely on commuted pension to build their homes, marry off their children, and meet other necessities. Reduction of the commuted pension will cause distress to them,” he said.

Senior AGEGA leader Samiullah Khalil said that the government’s response to the association’s demands was “not positive.”

He said that it seemed that the AGEGA leaders would meet on Wednesday night to chalk out their future course of action and would gather at the Government Higher Secondary School No 1, Peshawar city, again at around 11am on Thursday (today).

“We will also address a press conference regarding our demands,” he said.

AGEGA president Wazirzada said that the provincial government was not accepting their demands under the IMF’s pressure.

He said that government employees of KP would not accept reduction of pension in the garb of reforms.

“Our protest will continue until our demands are met,” he said.

The AGEGA leaders said that the Wednesday protest was the start of a movement to protect pension. They said that the government was imposing cuts on their pension but they would not go back from their stand.They also said that more people would join the proteston Thursdayto make it successful.

The AGEGA leaderssaid that employees from all government departments would join the protest.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2025