Salaries and pensions crisis: Employees to lock down Capital Metropolitan Govt offices on 7th

PESHAWAR: Employees of the Capital Metropolitan Government of Peshawar Wednesday announced a strike and closure of all offices for an indefinite period starting October 7.

The United Municipal Workers Union of the Capital Metropolitan Government Peshawar and all tehsils union leaders, including Chairman Malik Muhammad Naveed Awan, General Secretary Syed Waqar Ali Shah through a statement said the decision had been taken in line with the ongoing struggle for salaries and pensions.

They said that information obtained from the Finance Department revealed that there was no likelihood of a special grant being issued in the next 15 days, leaving the employees in a state of desperation.

The office-bearers said that many employees and their families were facing severe financial difficulties. “Our children are going hungry, and we are being forced to pay high penalties for unpaid bills for electricity, gas, and school fees,” said the employees union leaders in the statement.

They said retired elderly employees, including widows and orphaned children from remote villages, made daily visits to the banks only to return home empty-handed.The union leaders said the delay in the release of funds had nothing to do with the director general of the Capital Metropolitan Government Peshawar, adding the issue lies with the provincial government and the Finance Department.

They said the director general fully supported the employees and has been making relentless efforts to secure the release of the funds.The employees union leaders said the situation could not improve despite several meetings with the Finance Department officials.