A protest by government employees ahead of the federal budget session turned tense outside the Pak Secretariat as demonstrators gathered to press the government for the acceptance of their demands regarding salaries, allowances, and pension-related issues.
Employees from different provinces assembled in Islamabad and moved toward Parliament House, where they planned to continue their protest during the presentation of the federal budget for 2026-27.
According to Rahman Bajwa, Chief Organiser of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), the protest would continue until the government accepts their demands and incorporates them into the federal budget.
The employees are demanding the immediate implementation of all provisions of the March 10, 2025 agreement. They have called for the merger of all ad hoc relief allowances into basic pay, the introduction of a new Pay Scale 2026, and a 100 per cent Ad Hoc Relief Allowance for the upcoming fiscal year.
Among other demands are a 50 per cent salary increase for employees earning less than Rs50,000 per month, a 200 per cent increase in conveyance, medical and house rent allowances and the withdrawal of pension reforms while retaining the existing pension system.
The protesters are also seeking a 30 per cent Disparity Reduction Allowance, the removal of the 25 per cent tax slab for teachers and researchers and the regularisation of daily-wage and contract employees.
In addition, they have called for the restoration of job quotas for the children of employees who die during service, the formation of joint committees for institutions included in the privatisation program and an increase in the minimum monthly wage to Rs50,000.
The demonstration intensified outside Pak Secretariat, where clashes were reported between protesters and police as authorities attempted to maintain security around key government buildings during the budget session.
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