LAHORE, May 16: Teachers held a rally on Wednesday to press the government for ending the contract system and rationalising their wages.

A large number of teachers holding banners and placards staged the protest rally on The Mall and briefly blocked traffic under the banners of Muttahida Mahaz-i-Asatza Pakistan and the Punjab Educators Association.

The protesters raised slogans against the government for preferring traffic wardens to schoolteachers in giving financial relief and perks.

They marched from Regal Chowk to Charing Cross where their leaders warned that the teachers would be compelled to take direct action if the government tried to privatize educational institutions during the summer vacation.

The government should refrain from denationalising educational institutions as it would affect the future of hundreds of teachers and thousands of students.