MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The employees of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have expanded the scope of their protest against what they said the government’s breach of promises and continuous neglect.
The daily three-hour strike of the employees continued for the second day on Monday, which is severely affecting the state revenue system.
IRD Welfare Association
The Inland Revenue Department Welfare Association Azad Kashmir has warned the government that if their demands are not met by August 3, all revenue offices across the state will be closed for an indefinite period after August 10.
Talking to the media, the central president of the Welfare Association, Chaudhry Muhammad Asif, and other leaders said that for the past one week, the employees were performing their duties by wearing black bands on their arms in protest, but after the continuous silence of the authorities, they finally had to decide to go on a strike. Now, the daily three-hour strike will continue from August 3 till August 10.
Chaudhry Muhammad Asif said that the Inland Revenue Department not only meets its target in state revenue collection every year but is also providing many times more revenue. Despite this, the employees are being denied special and performance allowances on their basic salary since 2022, which is tantamount to complete injustice and discrimination, he said.
He added that revenue employees should also be provided with legitimate benefits on the pattern of other government departments.
“If the government still does not show seriousness, employees will be forced to close offices for an indefinite period and as a result, the state financial system will be completely paralyzed.”
The Welfare Association has demanded that the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan, Chief Secretary, Secretary Inland Revenue and other high officials take immediate notice and ensure immediate implementation of the promises made to the employees so that the situation does not deteriorate further.
