KARACHI: Lady health workers (LHWs) from across the province held a major sit-in at Teen Talwar, Clifton, on Monday, demanding that the government keep the LHW programme under the health department and immediately resolve their grievances related to the service structure and retirement.

The protest, organised by the All Sindh Lady Health Workers & Employees Union (ASLHWEU), ended late evening after what officials described as “successful” talks with the health secretary.

It was earlier scheduled at the Bilwal Chowrangi in Clifton but the police blockade forced the demonstrators to shift the venue.

While the ASLHWEU leadership claimed that the police had arrested over 400 of their workers, a police official said that around 150 lady health workers were picked up as they blocked the main road. He said all of them were later released.

Speaking at the demonstration, Haleema Zulqarnain Laghari, central president ASLHWEU, said the workers strongly opposed the outsourcing of the LHW programme to People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) or any other private entity.

“Our primary demand is that we should be under the health department and allowed to continue working according to the LHW programme policy. We demand a proper service structure, time-scale promotions, pension and gratuity for our retired employees,” she said.

Despite being regularised in 2012, she pointed out, LHWs remained stuck in lower grades even after 14 years of service.

Shama Gulani, general secretary ASLHWEU, said that lower-tier employees should receive the same consideration for scale revision as other provincial government employees.

“When officers within the same programme are granted upgraded scales, why are lower-tier workers being denied the same opportunity?” she asked.

The protesters also demanded restoration of the medicine budget transferred to PPHI, along with maintenance and fuel allowances for supervisors’ vehicles. They emphasised that adequate district-level funds should be provided through district health officers to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines, repairs and other essential operational resources.

In her remarks, the union’s senior vice president Nasira Parveen said that today’s sit-in was part of an ongoing peaceful struggle that began with a demonstration at the Hyderabad Press Club on July 3, followed by protests at basic health units, rural health units and centres and district headquarters.

The ASLHWEU leadership appealed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chief minister and the health minister Sindh to intervene and protect the LHW programme, which they described as the legacy of Benazir Bhutto.

“This is Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s programme. We urge PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to honour that legacy and grant frontline healthcare workers their legitimate rights,” Haleema said.

The union leadership called for immediate dialogue with the Sindh government and urged trade unions, labour organisations, human rights activists and civil society to support their peaceful struggle for dignity, job security, fair career progression and justice.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2026