MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The protest of the health department employees continued for the 17th day in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir.
The employees have been demonstrating a two-hour strike every day, which has been announced to continue until the demands are accepted. Today, a protest demonstration was held outside the CMH Gate in Muzaffarabad, where the speakers demanded immediate talks with the Azad Kashmir government.
The protesters appealed to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Health Minister Bazil Ali Naqvi, and Opposition Leader Shah Ghulam Qadir to personally intervene and resolve the problems of the employees.
The employees have also decided to take to the streets, indicating the expansion of the scope of the protest. Addressing the protest, President Abid Mughal, General Secretary Obaid-ur-Rehman, Iqbal Awan, Madam Sabiha, Bilal Ahmed Malik, Imran Rafiq Chughtai, Sheikh Shahzad, Chaudhry Sajjad, and Bilal Ahmed said that the employees of the health department have been raising their voices for their legitimate rights for a long time, but they are not being heard yet.
Demands of Health Employees
He said that if the demands are not accepted, the protest will be intensified. The main demands of the employees include
- Health allowance should be given on the basic pay.
- A separate service structure should be formed for all employees.
- Drug sales allowance should be issued as per the previous rules.
- Notification of pension of health workers should be issued.
- Health care allowance should be given immediately.
- A health foundation should be established.
- Profits should be given on GPF.
A regular service structure should be created for nurses, allied health professionals, support staff, health workers, and MCH technicians.
The speakers said that the two-hour daily strike will continue until the demands are accepted, and if the government does not show seriousness, the scope of the protest will be further expanded.
