SWAT: Government employees on Wednesday staged rallies in various towns, demanding salary increases in line with prevailing inflation and the revival of the old pension system.

All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) gave the call for the protest.

Employees marched from Government Primary School No 4, Mingora, to the Swat Press Club, chanting slogans and carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, AGEGA Swat chapter chairman Sarfaraz Khan, general secretary Nadeem Khan and others said that government employees were facing financial difficulties due to low salaries amid rising inflation.

Also demand revival of old pension system

They criticised the government for introducing new policies that, in their view, were placing an additional burden on public sector employees.

The protesters demanded restoration of the old pension system and inclusion of the 2011 and 2015 allowances in pensions.

They also called for a 30 per cent disparity reduction allowance for provincial employees on the pattern of the federal government, along with an increase in house rent, medical and conveyance allowances.

In Lower Dir, the employees of various departments staged a rally in support of their demands.

The protesters marched from the Education Complex in Balambat to Shaheed Chowk, where they held a demonstration and chanted slogans against the provincial government.

Addressing the gathering, All Pakistan Teachers’ Association (APTA) Lower Dir president Qazi Habibullah, Young Teachers Association provincial president Ataur Rehman, AGEGA leaders and others demanded restoration of the old pension system and removal of disparities in employees’ salaries.

They also called for restoration of the 2011 and 2015 allowances for pensioners, doing away with the outsourcing of government institutions, abolition of the contributory provident fund system and revival of the general provident fund system.

The speakers further demanded issuance of a notification for the upgradation of the approved teaching posts, resolution of the son quota issue for Class-IV employees, regularisation of contract and ad hoc employees, and introduction of a service structure and upgradation of lady health visitors.

In Charsadda, employees of Tangi Tehsil Municipal Administration staged a demonstration and urged the government to order the release of their three-month pending salaries.

The protest was led by TMA employees’ union president Akhtar Gul, general secretary Haroon and other office-bearers. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

They said Eidul Azha was approaching, yet the employees’ households were struggling to make ends meet.

The speakers said that amid rising inflation, the non-payment of salaries had caused severe mental stress and financial hardship for the employees. They demanded that the government ensure immediate payment of the pending salaries before Eid so that employees could celebrate the festival with their families.

The protesters also demanded a 100pc increase in salaries in the upcoming budget and the immediate implementation of a proper service structure for all employees.

In Swabi, the AGEGA representatives staged a sit-in to push the government to meet their demands.

They were holding banners and placards inscribed with different slogans in favour of their demands.

Employees and pensioners gathered at Government Higher Secondary School, Shahmansoor, where they demanded that their salaries be increased in line with ever-climbing inflation in the upcoming budget and that the earlier interim increase be merged into the regular pay in the next financial year.

Addressing the protesters, AGEGA district chairman Fida Mohammad said that the government should reverse the recent pension cuts.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026