MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Employees of the Inland Revenue Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are continuing their protest after their legitimate demands were not met.
The symbolic strike, which lasts daily for three hours, has left the department’s operations in disarray and caused significant hardship for citizens relying on its services.
The Inland Revenue Welfare Association Non-Gazetted has announced that the current symbolic strike will continue until August 3, but warned that if their demands remain unmet, a complete shutdown of all Inland Revenue offices across AJK will begin from August 10.
Furthermore, the Association has decided to shut down all toll plazas and revenue checkpoints throughout the state starting August 11, escalating their protest to an indefinite and total closure.
While talking to the media, the central president of the association, Chaudhry Muhammad Asif, along with other leaders, strongly criticized the government’s failure to address the department employees’ grievances.
He stated that Inland Revenue staff have been deprived of special and performance allowances since 2022, which are fundamental rights granted to other government departments.
Chaudhry Asif said that full benefits should also be provided to the employees of the Inland Revenue Department on the pattern of other government departments.
He warned that if the government does not take immediate steps, the state’s financial system will come to a complete standstill, which will have a direct impact on the people and government revenue.
The Welfare Association has strongly demanded that all relevant high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan, the Chief Secretary, and the Secretary Inland Revenue, immediately fulfill the promises made to the employees so that the situation does not deteriorate further.
