RAWALPINDI, April 16: The teachers community will observe three-day hunger strike from April 18 in all the districts of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan to press for their demands.

According to the Muttahida Mahaz Asatza (United Teachers’ Front), Pakistan, the teachers were forced to take this extreme step as all the doors of promotion were closed for them.

It was the need of the hour that the teachers should be allowed overtime in order to ensure acceleration of rate of literacy, uprooting the sense of deprivation among teachers and elimination of backwardness in the education sector.

The details released by the front said salaries of the teachers of lower grade should have been raised in the budget instead of increase in the salaries of the teachers serving in grade 17-22.

The front called for enhancement in the salaries of the lower grade teachers equal to that of higher-grade teachers. Expressing concern over the lowering rate of commutation by the government, it said the amendment would cause loss of 36 per cent under the head of commutation to the teachers proceeding on retirement.

As much as Rs36,000 per Rs0.1 million will be slashed from commutation amount of every retiring teacher. Teachers want restoration of old table of commutation.

The front expressing resentment over disparity in the grant of scales to teachers possessing equal educational qualification at provincial level and central level said equal pay scales should be awarded to all teachers to ensure national cohesion and integrity.

It has decided to stage demonstrations at provincial level, hold protest rallies outside Parliament House in Islamabad on May 9 and boycott of educational institutions from May 10 for indefinite period throughout the country in case of non acceptance of their demand by the government.—Online