Hundreds of government employees under the banner of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) staged a protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Lahore, demanding the restoration of key financial benefits and a significant increase in salaries.
The protesters called for the reinstatement of pension, gratuity and leave encashment, which they said had been withdrawn or delayed in recent years. They also demanded a 30 per cent disparity allowance and a 50 per cent increase in salaries to cope with rising inflation.
Demonstrators gathered with banners and placards, raising slogans against what they described as anti-employee policies. Leaders of AGEGA stated that government employees in Punjab had been facing severe financial difficulties for the past three years, with inflation further worsening their economic conditions.
According to the protest leaders, although the disparity allowance had been announced in the budget, its implementation had been delayed. They urged the government to immediately issue a notification and fulfill its commitments.
The speakers also criticised the outsourcing of public institutions, including hospitals and educational facilities, claiming that such policies had negatively impacted services and led to job insecurity among employees.
Concerns were also raised about the abolition of the regularisation act, with protesters saying it had created uncertainty for contract workers and affected their morale.
AGEGA leaders warned that if their demands were not met, they would announce further protest actions after their upcoming meeting on April 20. The demonstration highlighted growing frustration among public sector employees over economic pressures and policy changes.
