ISLAMABAD: A token sit-in by health employees at major public sector hospitals in Islamabad entered its second consecutive day, with protestors vowing to continue their demonstration until the health risk allowance is restored.

Health workers also warned that the protest may be extended and intensified in the coming days if their demand remains unmet.

The hospitals where the strike is being observed include the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic, Federal General Hospital, National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (Nirm) and the District Health Office, among others.

At Pims, employees have been staging a two-hour daily strike from 8am to 10am.

The health risk allowanc, equivalent to one month’s basic salary, was initially introduced by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2011 but was withdrawn by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in 2014.

Employees had hoped it would be reinstated in the proposed federal budget, but no such announcement was made.

A large number of nurses, as well as gazetted and non-gazetted staff, participated in the protest and sit-in.

Addressing the protestors, Chairman of the Federal Health Alliance (FHA) Chaudhry Qamar Javed Gujar said the sit-in would not be called off until the allowance is formally approved and notified.

He claimed that the government had made another attempt a day earlier to persuade employees to end the strike by making verbal promises of restoring the allowance.

“Over the years, we’ve heard many similar promises, none of which have been fulfilled. If the government is serious, it should issue a formal notification. If no practical step is taken, we may intensify our protest from Monday,” he warned.

Mr Gujar added that a meeting was recently held with the secretary of health, but only verbal assurances were provided without any official commitment.

Speaking to the protesting staff, Raja Rab Nawaz said they remained united in their demand and that the sit-in would continue until the government addresses their concerns.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2025